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Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer today unveiled the 2024 Annual Report for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) at Little Flower Hall in Bray, County Wicklow. The event also marked the release of new research on supports for recently arrived communities in Ireland.
SICAP, now in its third phase (2024–2028), aims to combat social exclusion and improve quality of life for disadvantaged individuals and groups. The 2024 report shows the programme exceeded all key performance indicators, supporting 32,490 individuals, 2,368 community groups, and 473 social enterprises. Notably, 1,995 people progressed into employment, and over 53,000 children and parents received assistance.
The accompanying research highlights SICAP’s role in supporting New Arrivals, including Ukrainians, asylum seekers, and refugees. Between 2022 and 2023, 16,404 New Arrivals—30% of the total caseload—received support, with Ukrainians comprising 72% of that group.
Tánaiste Harris praised SICAP’s impact, calling it “Ireland’s primary social inclusion programme,” while Minister Buttimer emphasized its role in improving life chances for marginalised communities. Pobal CEO Anna Shakespeare noted the programme’s reach, with over 122,000 supports delivered in 2024 alone.
The reports offer insight into integration efforts and the evolving needs of Ireland’s diverse communities.
