Written answers

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Men's Sheds

Photo of Barry WardBarry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

119. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing multiannual funding for men's and women's sheds, to allow them to plan longer term projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37247/25]

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I believe that the emergence of Men’s Sheds and Women's Sheds has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland and I am fully committed to supporting Men's Sheds and Women's Sheds in the valuable work they do.

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, the results of which I announced last month;
  • The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028 ; and
  • The LEADER programme.
Men’s and Women's Sheds can apply individually for all of these schemes.

In addition to these schemes, my Department has channelled funding through the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) to distribute directly to Men’s Sheds. I recently met with the IMSA to discuss their funding going forward. I was pleased to announce a financial package with the IMSA for this year which will enable them to distribute up to €1m in supports to Men's Sheds across the country.

Multi-annual funding is also provided to the IMSA through the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). The IMSA has been allocated total funding of €283,684 over the three-and-a-half-year period of the current scheme. A new iteration of the scheme will be available in 2026.

As Women’s Sheds do not currently operate under a national organisation, my Department is unable to provide funding similar to that provided to Men’s Sheds via the IMSA. Officials in my Department, along with colleagues in the Department of Health, recently met with members of the National Forum of Women’s Sheds to discuss how they might be supported in setting up a national organisation. A number of options are now under consideration

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 relevant funding opportunities as they become available.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.