Programmes Administered by SLPC

The following Government Initiatives are administered on behalf of our partners by Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG.

For information on how we implement these programmes to help individuals, communities, groups and businesses in County Sligo please visit our How we help sections: Employment Supports, Social and Personal Supports, Community Support and Enterprise Support.

Our Case Studies section highlights the many projects we are proud to have been able to offer support to.

Rural Development Programme

Sligo LEADER Partnership, as the implementing partner for the LEADER Rural Development Programme (RDP) on behalf of the Local Community Development Committee.

Sligo has a LEADER RDP budget of €7.655 million to be allocated over the period 2014-2020.

The Programme is set out over three main themes:

Rural Economic Development / Enterprise Development and Job Creation
Social inclusion through building community capacity, training and animation
Rural Environment

Each theme is divided into sub-themes:

Economic Development

Rural tourism
Enterprise
Rural towns
Broadband

Social Inclusion

Basic services targeted at hard to reach communities
Rural Youth

Rural Environment

Protection and sustainable use of water resources
Protection and Improvement of local biodiversity
Development of Renewable energy

Projects can attract a maximum rate of aid of 50% (Private/Individual/SMEs) or 75% (Community Groups for non-economic activity).

There is a two-step application process. Firstly interested parties should submit and Expression of Interest form. EoIs which are deemed eligible under the Programme Rules will be invited to full application stage.

For further information:

Please contact a member of our Rural Development Programme Team on 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Community and Enterprise supports.

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2018 - 2022

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. SICAP 2018 – 2022 is the successor programme to SICAP 2015 – 2017.

Administered by Pobal and funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, it also receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups.

The programme is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from local authorities, and actions are delivered by Programme Implementers (PIs).

Sligo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) awarded the contract for the delivery of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation programme (SICAP) to County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG. The current programme commenced on 1st January 2018.

Sligo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) established a SICAP Monitoring Committee to work on behalf of and report to Sligo LCDC in overseeing the delivery of SICAP and monitoring implementation progress. The Monitoring Committee will also give feedback to County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG (Programme implementer) on the delivery of the plan and work with them to agree new/emerging areas of opportunity or concern.

In May 2018 the remit of this Committee was broadened to include other Social Inclusion areas.

For further information:

Please contact a member of our SICAP Team on 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Employment, Social and Personal and Community supports.

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme is administered in County Sligo by Sligo LEADER Partnership on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If you take part in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is a payment made by the department to people aged under 66.

For further information see Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or visit www.gov.ie/en/service/f215a4-back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/

Tús (community workplace initiative)

Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG are administrators of the Tús (community workplace initiative).

The Tús (community workplace initiative) is provided by the Department of Social Protection.

The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to benefit the community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas.

The Tús initiative is managed by local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta for the Department of Social Protection, which has overall responsibility for the scheme. Participants work 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months.

All the work carried out by participants in the Tús scheme is community-based.

The types of projects eligible for the scheme may include:

environmental services (for example, conservation and maintenance of national walkways)
caring services (for example, childcare, care of older people)
general community services (for example, newsletters or information provision for communities)
heritage and cultural services (for example, local heritage project)

How to qualify

To qualify for the Tús scheme, you must:

have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and “signing on” on a full-time basis
have been receiving a jobseeker’s payment (Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance) from the department for at least 12 months
be currently receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance

Unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme will be identified and contacted by their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office and offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme. Since May 2015, some Tús places can be filled through self-referral by potential participants.

If you agree to participate in the Tús scheme you will be referred to your local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta, where you will be recruited for a suitable placement when it becomes available.

As there are only limited places available on the scheme, not all eligible unemployed people will be contacted.

For further information:

Please contact a member of our Tús Team on 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Employment and Community supports.

www.gov.ie/en/service/de6a8b-tus-community-work-placement-initiative/

Community Employment Programme

Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG are administrators of the Community Employment (CE) programme.

The Community Employment (CE) programme is provided by the Department of Social Protection.

The programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.

The work is community-based and participants can take up other part-time work during their CE placement.

The training provided through CE is delivered within a Quality Assurance framework. See details of recognised courses on www.qqi.ie that can be achieved and that lead to major awards on the National Framework of Qualifications.

When a person’s CE placement ends, the person is encouraged to seek a job elsewhere using the skills, experience and training gained while participating on the CE scheme.

The duration of a CE placement is for 12 months with some exceptions.

How to qualify

The general qualifying age for CE is 21 years.

In general, you must also be getting one of the following payments for at least 12 months:

Jobseeker’s Benefit
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
One-Parent Family Payment
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
Farm Assist

Some exceptions exist and it is best to speak to a member of staff in your local Intreo Centre for more information about the qualifying criteria.

In general, all placements are for one year only, but if a CE participant is undertaking training to achieve a major award, the participant’s time can be extended by up to two years to allow him or her to complete the training which will enhance his or her overall employment prospects. Eligible people over 55 years of age can remain on CE for three years without having to meet the requirement that they are training for a major award.

Rates of payment

Payments are made in the form of a wage. Participant wage rates are determined by the underlying social welfare entitlement.

The minimum weekly payment (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €225.50 per week.
If the Social Welfare Payment you were in receipt of before starting a CE scheme is more than €203 per week, you will receive the same amount as your Social Welfare Payment plus €22.50 per week.
If the Social Welfare Payment you were in receipt of before starting a CE scheme is less than or equal to €203 per week, you will receive a payment of €225.50 per week.
You may retain any extra benefits, provided you are still eligible.

For further information:

Please contact a member of our Community Employment Programme Team on 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Employment and Community supports.

www.gov.ie/en/service/412714-community-employment-programme/

Rural Social Scheme

The Rural Social Scheme in County Sligo is administered by Sligo LEADER Partnership on behalf of the Department of Social Protection who has overall responsibility for the programme.

The aims of the scheme are to address:

Income support needs to low income farmers and fisherpersons and
Provision of certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents available among low income farmers and fisherpersons

The RSS allows low-income farmers and fisherpersons who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding/fishing, to earn a supplementary income.

In addition to the RSS providing resources to maintain and improve local amenities and facilities, participants also experience opportunities to improve existing, or develop new skills, and perform valuable work in the community.

For further information:

Please contact a member of our RSS Team 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Employment and Community supports.

Rural Recreation and the Walks Scheme

County Sligo is one of 12 areas selected nationally for operating a scheme for the development of Rural Recreation. The scheme is administered by Sligo LEADER Partnership on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, who fund the employment of a Rural Recreation Officer for Sligo.

Rural Recreation Officers

The responsibilities of the rural recreation officer include:

carrying out of the National Countryside Recreation strategy
overseeing work on the general upkeep, upgrade and rerouting of trails
assisting Fáilte Ireland in the development, marketing and promotion of trails and key walking destinations, including media and trade visits
working with local communities in developing trails and assisting in organising walking festivals
assisting with the implementation of the ‘Leave No Trace’ initiative

The Walks Scheme

The Walks Scheme is a national scheme involving landholders on National Waymarked Ways, Looped Walking Routes and Heritage Routes, and other trails approved by the National Trails Office. Rural Recreation Officers are responsible for the rollout of the National Walks Scheme.

The Walks Scheme has resulted in the development and enhancement of nearly 40 trails. The rural recreation officers have also negotiated and managed maintenance contracts with over 1,890 landowners.

As a result, significant social and economic benefits for local communities have been achieved including:

additional jobs in the accommodation sector
new business ventures such as bike hire and coffee shops, including more jobs in the supply
of outdoor recreational equipment and services
a noticeable growth in registered walking clubs
a significant increase in the number and duration of walking festivals which generate
additional bed nights in small villages and the wider rural area
maintenance payments to landholders for trail development, generating an income stream for rural communities of €5.4 million over a 4-year period
an injection of €600,000 into the local economy, over the same period, as a result of spending on materials for the maintenance of trails

For further information:

Please contact our Rural Recreation Officer on 071 9141138

This programme allows us to provide Community and Enterprise supports.

You can find further information on the scheme here www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/942b4b-the-walks-scheme-and-rural-recreation-officers/

Healthy Ireland Fund

Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG are administrators of the Healthy Ireland Fund.

Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of Ireland over the coming generation.

Pobal administer this fund on behalf of the Department of Health.

For further information:

This programme allows us to provide Social and Personal and Community supports.

Further information about the Healthy Ireland fund is available at www.pobal.ie/programmes/healthy-ireland-fund/

Digital Skills for Citizens Programme

The Scheme provides free basic digital skills training where people attending classes will learn the skills they need to use and enjoy the many benefits that using the internet offers.

Training classes include the following:

An Introduction to the internet – Internet Safety
How to send & receive Emails – Using online government services, i.e. Ag Food, Motor …Tax, Passports etc.
Using online banking services – How to use “Apps” like weather, traffic and news
Apps – How to use Social Media such as Skype, Facebook, ..Twitter – Online Shopping

Training takes place in numerous locations across the county.

Each person attending these classes will receive 10 hours free classroom training. Maximum class size is 10 people. An internet enabled device (Computer, Laptop or Tablet) will be provided for use during each class or if you prefer you can bring your own device.