The Inishowen Development Partnership has welcomed the recommendations of a new study examining supports for new communities.
The IDP provides the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in Inishowen, a programme which was examined by Pobal in the context of supporting new communities including migrants experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, asylum seekers and refugees.
14% of SICAP beneficiaries come from New Communities with 5,430 disadvantaged Migrants, 1,168 Asylum seekers and 851 Refugees nationwide engaging in the Programme. This week’s publication, launched by Minister for Community Development Joe O’Brien TD sets out a number of important findings and recommendations.
IDP welcomes the report’s recognition of the multiple barriers to social inclusion experienced by new communities and the finding that SICAP and Local Development Companies contribute strongly to five areas of integration – employment, education, access to services, social connection and political participation.
Commenting on the publication JOINT CEO, Shauna McClenaghan said; “This is a timely piece of work particularly in the context of the recent Government White Paper on the Ending of Direct Provision.
“Currently, the Social Inclusion budgets stand at 50% of what it was in 2008 – (€43m currently, €84.7m in 2008). The Programme needs to be resourced in order to meet the ambitions of this Pobal document and the Government White Paper.
“The explicit recognition of the requirement for additional financial investment to strengthen and support the work of SICAP with New Communities is welcome.
“It is also encouraging that the document acknowledges the good practice approaches of our members in the delivery of SICAP and the alignment of this delivery with national and international integration frameworks.”
In addition to SICAP, Local Development Companies are assisting with the employment and social inclusion needs of New Communities across the country, meeting local needs through WIN (Welcoming and Including New Communities), Refugee Resettlement Programmes, Intercultural Programmes in association with the Department of Justice, Local Authorities, Túsla, HSE, the St Stephen’s Green Trust and others. We are also delighted to involved in the development of Donegal’s Migrant Integration Strategy with Donegal LCDC which is a cross sectoral collaboration within the County and funded through LEADER.
