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

In December 2023, I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. The overall €6 million LEP includes a special ring-fenced capital fund of €1 million to provide support for Women’s Groups (i.e., Sheds, Groups, Clubs, Networks etc...), and builds on the €100,000 ring-fenced for Women’s Sheds under the 2022 Community Support Fund. The ring-fenced funding allocated for Women’s Groups is provided in tabular form in the attached table.

In addition to the ring-fenced fund, Women’s Sheds will also be eligible to apply under the main Local Enhancement Programme funding stream, which will provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas.

There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

The Local Enhancement Programme is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Each LCDC will be advertising the fund and I would encourage all Women's Sheds to engage with their LCDC directly for details on how to apply.

Details of successful Women’s Sheds under the Local Enhancement Programme will be published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd in quarter 2 of 2024.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) also provides supports to Women’s Sheds, for example in facilitating training courses and holding focus groups. This support remains available through SICAP.

Separately, funding under the LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. The Department does not, therefore, capture details of the amount of funding approved specifically for Women’s sheds under the LEADER programme.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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595. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funding will be announced for this year's local improvement schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4100/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the scheme is funded into the future.

The scheme was re-introduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2023, this Department has allocated almost €130 million towards improvement works on over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes. These works have benefitted over 20,000 landowners and residents in rural Ireland.

In 2023 alone, almost €30 million in funding was allocated to local authorities across the country, a record investment which demonstrates my commitment to addressing the demand for this scheme.

I am happy to confirm that the allocation in respect of the total scheme for 2024 has already been determined as part of the Budget 2024 and €13.55 million has been allocated to LIS, an increase of €1 million on the initial funding in 2023.

I hope to make an announcement on the launch of this year's scheme shortly in order to give local authorities as much time as possible to complete their lists of priority roads. My Department officials will liaise closely with local authorities to ensure funding is fully utilised.