Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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12. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the support that her Department has provided to organisations (details supplied) across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62021/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has provided a range of supports over recent years which both Men's and Women’s Sheds have availed of.

In 2020, under the Community Enhancement Programme,124 men’s sheds projects benefited and received funding to the value of €207,836, and 15 women's sheds projects benefited and received funding to the value of €23,956.

In 2021, under the same programme, 68 men’s sheds received funding to the value of €126,804, and 6 women's sheds received funding to the value of €4,728 from this programme.

Since 2018, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to over 200 Men’s Sheds, with small grants totalling over €98,000 awarded to 116 Men’s Sheds. This support is still is available from SICAP.

My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the COVID-19 Stability Funding in 2020. They distributed €70,424 equally among their member sheds to support the organisation to continue to deliver services despite the challenges brought by COVID-19.

My Department's Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three year period of the scheme which runs until 2025.

I recently awarded €800,000 in funding to Men's Sheds, meaning each Shed in the Country can get a grant of up to €2,000 by applying to their parent organisation. This funding complements the €100,000 ring-fence funding I announced in October to support the growing network of Women’s Sheds.

And finally, Men's and Women's Sheds can apply to the recently launched Community Support Fund which provides supports to small groups who are struggling with running costs. Sheds should contact their local LCDC for details of this fund.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I was delighted to launch the Community Support Fund with funding of €10 million on 18th November this year. This new fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, is designed to assist community groups across the country. Support is available to Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds and other community groups who provide vital services to communities around the country.

The fund will provide grants to help groups with rising energy and operational costs such as electricity bills, insurance costs etc. Groups can also use the funding to carry out small upgrade or refurbishment works and for the purchase of equipment which supports their activities such as laptops and printers, training equipment, tables, chairs etc.

The Community Support Fund is being administered on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Groups should contact their local LCDC for further details on the application process.

Separately, the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, will provide once-off energy supports to organisations within the community and voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government.

I can confirm that my department has streamlined the process for the CVESS and a further round of the scheme is now open. In addition, eligible organisations who missed the deadline for Phase One may also apply under Phase Two, with the scheme remaining open until 20th January 2023.

I was pleased to announce the first tranche of successful applicants under Phase One earlier this week, with further announcements to follow.

Further details on all of my Department schemes and funds can be found at www.gov.ie/drcd.