Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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935. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are any financial supports for communities where they provide services and activities for older people in community centres; if any organisations for older people support this financially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37435/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. A number of programmes and funding streams from my department support services and activities for older people with a proportion of these services delivered in community facilities all over Ireland.

My Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals.

Older people (aged 65+ Years) in isolation’ is a named thematic focus area under SICAP. 275 Community Organisations have been supported by SICAP to date (January 2024-June 2025) where ‘Older people (aged 65+ Years) in isolation’ is the primary target group.

Under SICAP, a total of €72,026 has been provided in grants to 71 Community Organisations where ‘Older people (aged 65+ Years) in isolation’ is the primary target group and a further €159,718 has been provided to 139 Community Organisations. The majority of grants were provided to support social, cultural & civic activities or small-scale capital projects.

My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 427 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and deliver 446 local services, through a social enterprise model, with a budget of €55.4m for 2025. Over 60 of these organisations provide a range of services for older people, as their primary activity.  Some examples of the services being provided in community centres include men’s groups, ladies’ groups, crochet groups, community education (Irish, Computers, Photography), art classes, prize bingo, monthly quiz, men’s choirs, music performances, line dancing, yoga, mindfulness, community garden and gardening classes, tea dances, public lectures, festival celebrations, talent shows, information nights and political clinics.

My Department’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most. It provides capital funding to support community and voluntary groups including those supporting older people, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with minor capital works and improvements to their facilities, and the purchase of equipment for community use. Successful projects funded under LEP 2025 were announced recently and details can be viewed on my Departments website: www.gov.ie/drcdg.

My Department also provides funding to Men's Sheds and Women’s (Sister) Sheds under various funding supports, including the SSNO, LEP, SICAP and LEADER. Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds apply individually for the these schemes.

Funding was provided directly to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) in 2022 and 2023 and was subsequently distributed to individual Men’s Sheds by that organisation. On May 23rd I was delighted to announce a financial package of €1 million to support Men's Sheds this year, which will enable the IMSA to distribute grants of up to €3,000 to Men's Sheds across the country.

As Women’s Sheds do not currently operate under an national 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 assist Women’s Sheds. In addition my department is currently working with the Women's Sheds regarding the development of a national organisation.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) plays a significant role in Government’s support to our national community and voluntary organisations. The SSNO provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations delivering services and supports. A number of the organisations in the SSNO have a specific focus on senior citizens, including Age Action, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Active Retirement Network. In addition, there are other organisations funded under the current SSNO programme, while not having a specific focus on senior citizens, provide related supports and advocacy.

Funding provided by my Department also supports the Seniors Alert Scheme, which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.