Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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748. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the energy support scheme for community and voluntary organisations that do not qualify for the community voluntary sector energy support scheme (details supplied). [8455/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, is providing once-off support to incorporated organisations and registered charities within the community and voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government.

While Phase One of the CVESS closed on 2nd December, I can confirm that my department has streamlined the application process further. Phase two is now open and will remain open until 24th February 2023. Further details are available on Pobal’s website.

I am pleased to have announced the first two tranches of successful applicants under Phase One, awarding over €516k to 418 organisations across the country. Payments have been issued directly into successful applicants' bank accounts, and a full list of recipients is available on Gov.ie.

I can confirm that my Department has worked with the Department of Health to ensure that C&V organisations that are partly funded by the HSE under Section 39 will receive the same levels of support towards energy costs as non-Section 39 organisations. Any relevant Section 39 organisation will be able to seek additional funding from the CVESS to meet any shortfall in the top-up funding they receive from the HSE or Department of Health, up to the level that is approved for other community and voluntary organisations, under the CVESS.

The Community Support Fund, with funding of €10 million was also launched on 18th November last. This is a new fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, and is designed to assist community groups across the country, in light of the current rising energy costs.

The fund will deliver grants to help groups with rising energy and operational costs such as electricity bills and insurance costs. 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 locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) on behalf of my Department, with support from their Local Authority. Groups should contact their local LCDC for further details on the application process.

My Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, charities, local authorities and local development companies, to support community organisations across the country as they deal with the ongoing and emerging challenges. These Schemes are part of a range of supports introduced through Budget ’23 and everyone is encouraged to visit gov.ie/reduceyouruse to find out how they can make energy savings, where safe and possible to do so.