Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The European Social Fund Plus Managing Authority is the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which has responsibility for the implementation of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training Programme in Ireland.

The specific objective of addressing material deprivation through food and basic material assistance through the European Social Fund Plus funding is managed by my Department on behalf of Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. This is a continuation of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived Programme. The total value of European Social Fund plus funding allocated to support the most deprived until 2027 is €34 million. Currently, my Department is working with 151 charities nationwide in distributing the food element of the Programme.

Kilkenny Helping the Homeless applied to join the Programme on 19th September 2023. Following a review of the application, my Department advised that it was not possible to admit the organisation to the programme as there are seven other charities availing of European Social Fund plus Food product in the Kilkenny area and the department is therefore satisfied that there is sufficient support available in this area.

I would recommend that Kilkenny Helping the Homeless engages with these other charities in the Programme in order to ensure that any families who may require assistance and support may benefit from it.

I trust this clarifies the position.