Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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13. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline the funding programmes available to men’s and women’s sheds from her Department. [8588/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of supports which are available to both Men's and Women’s Sheds, depending on the works being completed.

Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.

The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). Men’s Sheds should contact the IMSA for further details.

This funding complements the €100,000 ring-fenced funding I announced last October to support the growing network of Women’s Sheds.

Separately, Men's and Women’s Sheds can also apply for funding under the Community Support Fund (CSF) which I launched last November. This €10m fund was set up to help small community groups with their energy/running costs but will also provide funding for small capital works projects. The fund is being administered by Local Community Development Committees on behalf of my Department and interested groups should contact their local Local Community Development Committee directly for further information.