Written answers

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Funding

Photo of Ken O'FlynnKen O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1290. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to specify the total amount of funding allocated to each of the identified non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under his Department’s aegis over the past five years, broken down by State funding directly administered through central government agencies, departments, or any other public bodies; grants provided by local authorities or regional entities; additional financial support from public sources, including any specific allocations through schemes designed to support NGOs, charities, and community organisations; any external or private funding that NGOs may have received, specifically indicating where state funding is used to leverage additional private or philanthropic donations. [23857/25]

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There are no non-governmental organisations which operate under the auspices of my Department. However, my Department does administer schemes intended to support organisations operating in the community and voluntary sector, including the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO), the Community Services Programme (CSP), the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Scheme to Support Volunteering, the Community Development Programme (CDP), the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) and measures to support the development of social enterprises and philanthropy.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides core funding to registered charities with a national focus and that meet certain requirements. There are currently 82 organisations in receipt of SSNO funding.

The current SSNO will conclude at the end of 2025 after which a new iteration of the scheme will launch. Details of the SSNO, including funding amounts and recipients, can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/services/funding-for-voluntary-organisations/

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) funds measures to address poverty and social exclusion. SICAP uses a local partnership approach, encouraging disadvantaged people, public sector bodies and community groups to work together to find solutions to local challenges.

SICAP is managed on the ground by 33 Local Community Development Committees. More information on SICAP can be found at: www.pobal.ie/programmes/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap-2024-2028/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap-2018-2022/

My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 428 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.

Details on the CSP may be found at: www.pobal.ie/programmes/community-services-programme-csp/

The Scheme to Support Volunteering supports delivery of the National Volunteering Strategy. In 2025, funding has been allocated to the 29 Volunteer Centres across the country and to organisations such as Volunteer Ireland to provide services to the voluntary sector. I-VOL, a national volunteer database, is funded under this scheme.

Details on the National Volunteering Strategy can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/publications/national-volunteering-strategy-2021-2025/

The Community Development Programme (CDP), provides funding to community development organisations working or seeking to work at local level to address issues in areas such as racism (including Travellers and Roma), domestic or sexual violence, migration, gender, people living in direct provision or seeking international protection, climate action and just transition.

More information on the CDP can be found at: www.cwi.ie/department-of-rural-and-community-development-launches-pilot-community-development-programme/

My Department’s Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) is designed to empower local communities to craft their own response to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

There are currently 15 LCDC’s approved for funding in 2025. More information on the ECP, including funding awards, can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/collections/empowering-communities-programme-funding-allocations/

Since the launch of the first National Social Enterprise policy in 2019, €12.9m in Dormant Accounts Funding has been provided by my Department to support social enterprises. This funding has been used to provide capital supports schemes, capacity building schemes, training and mentoring programmes, and awareness raising funding to support growing and sustaining social enterprises.

Full details are available at: www.gov.ie/ga/an-roinn-forbartha-tuaithe-agus-pobail/bailiuchain/social-enterprise-funding-allocations/

My Department also provides funding to Rethink Ireland through the Dormant Account Fund (DAF). An allocation of €5.5m match funding is provided to support their work to facilitate, encourage and grow philanthropic giving in Ireland. The business model is for Government funding to match the philanthropic donations on a 50:50 co-funded basis. This venture philanthropy model of cash grants and business supports enables social innovations to develop and maximise their impact.

Information on the Dormant Accounts Fund may be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/policy-information/dormant-accounts-fund/

Information on the work of Rethink Ireland, funded by philanthropic giving with match funding from my Department, may be found at: www.rethinkireland.ie/

With regard to Deputy’s request for the details of funding paid to non-governmental organisations by all organs of the State, including Government departments and agencies, local authorities and other public bodies, my Department does not hold that information.

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