Contracts signed for social inclusion community scheme
CONTRACTS have been signed for the latest round of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme which wiull run from 2018 to 2022.
It follows the previous SICAP 2015 – 2017 Programme, which saw an overall investment of €4.8 million in social inclusion projects throughout Kerry.
Among the many projects which have benefited from SICAP include the ‘Steps to Success Programme,’ the Kerry Social Farming Project, the Men’s Sheds and Revamp projects.
The new SICAP Programme – which came into effect on January 1 – will continue to focus on reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion and equality through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.
SICAP 2018 is based on the current programme with a number of key changes. The redesigned programme reflects Ireland’s changing social and economic landscape, including the context of reduced unemployment and a general economic recovery.
The new programme design has been informed by the results of a national consultation process which took place in the first half of 2017.
This consultation process was designed to give a wide range of stakeholders the opportunity to identify areas for development and improvement.
The programme has reoriented itself to be better placed to respond to national needs and priorities, as well as local needs as identified by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) through their Local Economic and Community Plans.
The tender process for the appointment of Programme Implementers has been completed and the award of the contracts was approved by Kerry’s LCDC in November 2017.
The funding agreement with the successful Programme Implementers,North East and West Kerry Development, South Kerry Development Partnership and IRD Duhallow, was signed recently at County Buildings. FÁILTE Ireland’s inclusion of the diving boards at Fenit as a key attraction in its Wild Atlantic Display in the port will form part of the argument for the restoration of the boards by campaigners when they meet with Council officials shortly.
It appears the tourist body believes the boards are still up, and still bringing hordes out.
Members of the Restore Fenit Diving Boards Campaign secured the meeting as they push to have the diving boards put back in a move they believe will attract hundreds more to Fenit each summer.
Fenit had diving boards since the 1920s, until a legal suit in modern times led to the Council taking them down. A woman claimed she had been injured on the boards in 1999, sparking a controversy that resulted in the Council taking over the foreshore licence for the operation of the boards before removing them entirely to protect the authority from liability.
However, campaigners say that liability fears have been surmounted by the legal departments of other authorities, most notably in Clare where boards restored (in Kilkee) in June led to a resurgence of water-based activity in a boost for the area.
The meeting comes as positive news for a campaign that was official launched just before Christmas. Committee member Billy Ryle thanked Tralee Mayor Norma Foley for working to facilitate the event. At the meeting the committee will present the Council will a feasability study they say ‘ encompasses a convincing argument for the immediate restoration of the diving boards in Fenit.’
“The presentation endorses Failte Ireland’s recognition of the diving boards as an integral component of Fenit’s aqua-tourist infrastructure on Kerry’s Wild Atlantic Way coastal route. The presentation is also fully compliant with Kerry County Council’s Tourism Strategy 2016 - 2022,” Mr Ryle said.
“The RFDBC Committee is extremely grateful to the general public for the overwhelming support for the campaign since it was launch before Christmas.”