Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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580. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a group (details supplied) has been excluded from availing of the grant from the men's sheds fund; the reason for this exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25059/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In 2019, my Department is providing funding of €4.5m for community groups through its Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). An additional €0.5m has been ring-fenced under the Programme for provision to Men's (and Women's) Sheds. This funding provides small grants to enable sheds to purchase equipment or to carry out minor works to their premises .

To quality for this ring-fenced fund, sheds must be affiliated to the Irish Men's Sheds Association. All other groups, including the group referenced in the question, were eligible to apply for funding under the main CEP, under which €4.5m is available in 2019.

I note that in 2018, the group in question was approved for €1,000 under the main CEP, and LEADER funding of €3,696, also provided by my Department.