Govt announces over €44 million for Social Inclusion Programme

Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, has announced over €44 million for the Social Inclusion and Community Activity Programme (SICAP) in 2023. This funding has been allocated as part of Budget 2023. SICAP supports communities and individuals to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality, developing the capacity … Read more

Increasing female labour force would reduce poverty, ESRI study

A new ESRI study commissioned by the Department of Social Protection explores how the national consistent poverty target of 2 per cent by 2025 could be achieved. The research estimates that increasing labour market participation of women could decrease the risk-of-poverty (AROP) rate by 2.9 percentage points while activating jobless households could decrease the risk-of-poverty … Read more

Minister Joe O’Brien visits Rosslare Europort and Danby Lodge Hotel, Co Wexford

Mr. Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, today visited Rosslare Europort and the reception centre which was set up to welcome and provide essential support for Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Community response in Rosslare involves volunteer groups working with the Local Authority, Government Departments, the Harbour Master, … Read more

Ukraine Crisis: Minister Joe O’Brien meets with Community Workers and volunteers

Minister of State for Communities and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, visited Blanchardstown and Tallaght to see first-hand the work being done by the community and voluntary sector to welcome new arrivals from Ukraine. In Blanchardstown, Empower, a local development company has welcomed over 200 families and provided them with services such as English language classes, … Read more

Ukraine Crisis: Minister O’Brien meets with Local Development and Community and Voluntary Sector Representatives

Minister of State for Communities and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, met with over 150 stakeholders from local government, local and community development and the volunteer sector. Minister O’Brien convened the meeting to discuss the community’s response to the Ukraine crisis. The Minister recalled how during the pandemic, the community call initiative led by the Local … Read more