Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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2635. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline what funding support is available to assist Tullamore Men’s Shed and Tullamore Women’s Shed with their rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20888/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to Men's Sheds and Women’s (Sister) Sheds under various funding supports, including:

• The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 which allowed Men's Sheds and Women’s Sheds to apply for running costs as well as small capital works for the purchase of equipment for their facilities. LEP 2025 has recently closed for applications.
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028 also provides supports to Men's Sheds and Women’s Sheds. This support is still available through SICAP.
• The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) which has been extended for 6 months from 30 June 2025 onwards. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has been allocated total funding of €283,684 over the three-years and 6 month period of the scheme.
• The LEADER programme where funding is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities but is focused on a thematic approach to rural development. Both Men’s and Women’s Shed may be eligible to apply.

Men’s Sheds apply individually for most of the schemes mentioned above. Funding was channelled by my Department through the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) in 2022 and 2023 and was distributed directly to the Men’s Sheds by that organisation. I recently met with the IMSA to discuss possible funding streams going forward and discussions are ongoing.

I am very aware of the growing interest in Women's Sheds, but as Women’s Sheds do not currently operate under an overall organisation, my Department is unable to provide funding similar to that previously provided to Men’s Sheds via the IMSA. However, my Department has ring-fenced funding under various iterations of the LEP to help Women’s Sheds.

I would encourage all Men’s and Women’s Sheds to check my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd , and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.