Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, I always have to negotiate funding commitments with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform at budget time. The work the men's sheds are doing is invaluable in terms of the network and social support provided. If someone is having a bad day, the best place he can go is up to the men's shed. He will get a good cup of tea and will hear what is happening in the country. The sheds really do people good and I am a big supporter of them. The role they have developed has become vital in communities. Last year, I was delighted to be able to provide funding of €800,000 to the national Irish Men's Sheds Association. There are roughly 400 men's sheds so each one will receive up to €2,000. We did not complicate the matter by having fancy formulas. We just divided up the funding and left it with the IMSA to get it out the men's sheds. I compliment the association on its work.

The men's sheds are ahead of everybody else on this. Last year, I met representatives of various women's group to encourage them to come together to form a similar organisation. I put €100,000 aside and told them to make applications for this funding to help them set up a similar type of organisation. I said I was sure the men's sheds would give them the benefit of their experience. That is out there at the minute.

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