Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

102. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans in place to support older people who experience loneliness and social isolation, particularly those located in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 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 and information nights. 

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, 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 the Department's 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 LEP, SICAP and LEADER. Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds apply individually for these schemes. Funding was also provided directly to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) in 2022 and 2023 and was subsequently distributed to the 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 overarching 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. 

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) also 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, with a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. Organisations supported by the SSNO operate at the very heart of our communities, providing much needed supports for our most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens, including older people. A number of the organisations in the SSNO have a specific focus on older people, including Age Action, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Active Retirement Network.

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.

Lastly, my Department provides core funding to Age Friendly Ireland (AFI) and is an active member of AFI's National Advisory Group. AFI is a national shared service that works across the 31 local authorities, supporting cities, towns and villages to prepare for the predicted increase in our older population by paying increased attention to the environmental, economic and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults.