Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided to a project (details supplied) in 2017; the funding that will be provided in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25855/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The organisation referred to by the Deputy (Men's Sheds) is a member-based network with associated member bodies throughout the country.  My Department provides funding both to the central organisation and to its individual member bodies under a number of different funding streams.

The Men's Sheds movement has been a tremendous success. Since June 2017, the Irish Men's Sheds Association has approved applications for new sheds in at least 20 different counties and for several locations in Dublin. Men's Sheds are now present in every single county on the island, with at least three sheds in every county and some with many more.  I sincerely congratulate the Association on its important work to date.

There is clearly a huge demand in communities around Ireland for somewhere where men can learn, create and communicate; where they can get informed on their physical and mental health; and where they can achieve things together in an enjoyable way. The phenomenal increase in Men’s Sheds is testament to the positive impact that they are having in communities around Ireland.

I provided funding of €14,900 on a once off basis, to the central Men's Sheds organisation, to purchase IT equipment to ensure better communication with its network members.

Under the RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme, my Department provided funding of €38,400 to eight member bodies to upgrade facilities and expand their activities.

Under my Department's Communities Facilities Scheme, I provided funding to 73 individual member bodies in 2017 to a value of €93,320.  

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which commenced in most parts of the country on 1 January 2018, also provides support to individual member bodies around the country. 15 SICAP Programme Implementers have recorded activity to support 38 such bodies under the new programme to date. 

SICAP Programme Implementers have also given 112 support interventions in areas such as community planning, social inclusion and equality issues, capacity building. However, no grants have been recorded to date to the network under SICAP 2018-2022. 

Funding for such projects is also available under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme. In 2017, four projects were approved for funding of €69,788.47. In the first five months of 2018 a further three applications have successfully been approved and the value of these applications is €72,616.98.

In addition, I am aware that LEADER funding has also been approved for facilities utilised by the member bodies of the organisation referred to by the Deputy.