Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of funding for men’s sheds. I acknowledge the fantastic work they do in County Tipperary and throughout the island. The emergence of men’s sheds has been a highly positive development for communities - not just men - across Ireland. The sheds provide an invaluable service, helping to tackle social isolation and providing a space for people to come together, socialise and build friendships. They also many provide many valuable services and crafts in the community.

The current programme for Government contains a commitment to “support local groups like Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and Active Retirement communities” and to “Continue to fund Men’s and Women’s Sheds”. The local enhancement programme referred to by the Deputy provides small grants to community groups to enhance their facilities. In general, support under the LEP is available to, for example, parish halls, community centres, local development associations and men’s sheds. Under the LEP community enhancement programme, men's sheds have been entitled to apply for funding as well as having a proportion of the funding ring-fenced for them in some years. Since 2018, more than €2.3 million in funding was allocated to approximately 1,370 men's sheds under the community enhancement programme of the local enhancement programme.

In addition, my Department has also provided funding to men's sheds through its representative body, the Irish Men's Sheds Association. In November 2022 and December 2023, funding of €800,000 and €1 million, respectively, was announced to support men’s sheds throughout the country with running costs, such as electricity and insurance bills, as Deputy Healy mentioned. This funding supported the sustainability of men’s sheds with their increased running costs, particularly as many had a challenge to re-establish sheds in the wake of the pandemic. The individual grants were distributed to the men’s sheds via the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. A total of 378 sheds received funding under the 2023 allocation, with grant funding of up to €3,000 awarded.

Late last year my officials reached out to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association with regard to funding needs. Representatives of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association advised my officials that they were not in a position to submit a proposal for distribution of grants to men’s sheds at that time. They have reached out since, however, and we are trying to arrange a meeting in the coming weeks to receive a funding proposal from the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, which I will then consider.

I am very aware of the importance of each individual shed to its members, and of the contribution the shed makes to its members' lives and their communities. I will discuss this proposal with officials in my Department when I receive it.

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