Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department’s position regarding the provision of funding for an operations base in Wicklow for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24789/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for administrative arrangements for the “Coastal and Inshore, Mountain and Cave Rescue Grant Current” on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG). This is an annual maintenance grant to support the search and rescue activities of the ten Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams who are constituent members of Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI). They are tasked by An Garda Síochána and frequently work alongside other search and rescue organisations in the course of training and missions.

The grant also provides support for eleven Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI) units, which constitute the ‘Coastal and Inshore’ part of the grant’s title, these are voluntary rescue boat units that undertake to benchmark their training and activities against IRCG Boat Unit standards and may be tasked by the IRCG to assist in the event of a Search and Rescue.

Regrettably the IRCG is not in a position to provide additional funding to Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue under the 2025 budget allocation. The pre-funding grant allocation for the unit has already been submitted and approved by Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for 2025.

The following schemes have provided various types of funding in the past and we would advise to check with them for any current or future allocations:

DRCD

Department of Rural and Community Development’s (DRCD) CLÁR scheme

Please visit their website - www.gov.ie/drcd - for updates.

Pobal

Pobal administer funding across several programmes, with information available at www.gov.ie.

Information on the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) is available at: www.pobal.ie/programmes/scheme-to-support-national-organisations-ssno-2022-2025/

LEADER

Funding opportunities under the LEADER Programme are available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/46cecf-leader-programme-funding/

County Council

Registration with the Public Participation Network (PPN) which is organised through County Councils. The PPN sends regular updates to members with notifications of current grant schemes.

Full list:

www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/a58b8-community-groups-public-participation-networks/