Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total amount of funding allocated and paid out to men's sheds and women's sheds under the local enhancement grant administered by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14542/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of supports which are available to both Men's Sheds and Women’s Sheds.

Under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025, Men's and Women’s Sheds were eligible to apply directly to their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for funding under both capital and current funding streams. Funding of €7m was available under this programme in 2025. The LEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by LCDCs across the country, with support from their local authority. This programme closed to applications on the 7 March 2025.

My officials are currently awaiting lists of approved projects under the LEP 2025 to be submitted by the LCDCs. I expect to be in a position to announce details of successful projects under LEP 2025 in early May. A list of all projects will be available on my Departments website.

Under the Local Enhancement Programme 2024, funding of €111,140.31 was awarded to 72 Men’s Sheds and funding of €168,686.52 was awarded to 84 Women's Sheds.

My Department has also provided funding to Men’s Sheds via the Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA) to the value of €1.8 million. This funding provided grants of up to €3,000 to Men’s Sheds registered with the ISMA.

My officials contacted the IMSA late last year with regard to funding. They advised that they were not in a position to submit a proposal at that time, but that they would be in contact with my Department in 2025. Once my Department receives a proposal from the IMSA, it will be considered on its merits, subject to the available resources within my Department.