Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for Rural and Community Development for coming to the Chamber to respond to this issue, which concerns men's sheds.

I have been contacted by 17 different men's sheds in County Tipperary, including those in Ballagh, Ballina, Borrisokane, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clogheen, Clonmel, Fethard, Glengoole, Moycarky, Mullinahone, Nenagh, Roscrea, Silvermines, Thurles and Tipperary town. There is serious concern in the men's sheds movement, both in the county and nationally, about funding into the future. The members have serious concerns about the future viability and sustainability of the sheds. This is because of the reduction in grants available for the period from 1 June 2024 to 30 May 2025.

In 2023-24, a ring-fenced grant of €1.15 million was available for in excess of 450 sheds. These grants were for up to €3,000 per shed. Of course that money was a lifeline for the sheds and was most critical to their continued existence and sustainability. The sheds are stand-alone and they rely totally on donations and on State grants. The concern is the grant may not be available in 2024-25 and certainly not to the extent it was available in 2023-24. The new grant scheme is not ring-fenced and is distributed among a large number of community organisations. Obviously, the sheds and the community organisations welcome any grants that may be available. The outcome for the sheds, however, is that grant amount will be greatly reduced, with each shed likely to receive a grant amount of between €250 and €500. The shortfall in the grant could be in the region of €2,500 per shed, which would make the sheds unsustainable and inevitably lead to the closure of many of the of the shads.

As the Minister is aware, the sheds are unique for a number of reasons. First, they need dedicated rooms or buildings to carry out their activities. They may purchase, rent or lease properties. Running costs for sheds are higher than normal community organisations because of maintenance, utilities, heating and lighting, which are very costly, and insurance which is quite high as well. Materials is re another issue which may not arise in other organisations. There can also be fair wear and tear of equipment.

All in all, the sheds are seriously concerned about their future viability and existence. I ask the Minister to have the ring-fenced grants that were available 2023-24 reinstated, which would alleviate the concerns and fears of members and ensure the continued existence of the sheds.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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As the Minister has said, the continued existence and sustainability of men's sheds is vital for a number of reasons and he mentioned some of them there. They provide support for members by tackling a range of physical and mental health conditions and helping to provide inherent health benefits to a quarter of the population who are disproportionately affected by health issues. They also provide support to other local community organisations, for instance the elderly, meals on wheels and possibly daycare centres.

I have a copy of local enhancement programme from Tipperary County Council which indicates that the grants available this year in 2024-25 under the scheme could be as low as €500. If that were to continue, it would mean many of the sheds would not be in a position to continue in existence, which would have serious knock-on effects on their members and the local communities.

The sheds appreciate the Government assistance and especially the assistance in the past. They wish to see the ring-fenced grants reinstated. I welcome the Minister's reference in the reply to the proposal which it is hoped will come from the Irish Men's Sheds Association and his commitment to consider that. I take it that any consideration of that would be an increase in funding over and above what is available under the local enhancement scheme.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I will not give any specific commitment until I engage on the proposal. Nationally, the local enhancement programme has a €7 million budget for 2025. Applications for that closed on 7 March and will be dealt with quickly. I look forward to meeting representatives of the Irish Men's Sheds Association and to engaging with them. I know I speak for the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, as well in sharing our commitment to supporting them. I express my absolute appreciation of the work they do, not only in my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development but also as Minister for Social Protection. The work they do is fantastic. It is a model that has bounced back after the pandemic as a result of considerable hard work. I support the work they do and the contribution they make across the island. I look forward to working with them over the course of my term as Minister.