Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

We all share the aspiration to fund and support because it is a programme for Government commitment to continue to form both men's sheds and women's sheds. The women's sheds do not have the current umbrella body like men's sheds do and there needs to be a mechanism to channel the funding that is needed. Our Department has a number of schemes through which women's sheds can avail of support, such as LEP, SICAP and LEADER. We are committed to working with women's sheds post the facilitation to ensure that we provide support and funding. As the Deputy said, this is an important new departure, doing different work from other women's organisations, the benefit of which can be seen in our communities. The Deputy mentioned Naas as an example and it is tremendous to see what is happening there. I thank him for raising the matter again. We stand ready. We will engage further post the publication of the recommendations by the facilitator and I hope that we will come to an agreement on the way forward in the new year.

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