Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
703. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to increase funding in Budget 2022 for voluntary mental health and suicide prevention charities due to extra demand for such services arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. [44577/21]
View answerThe Government are aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and are committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. To that end, Government and my Department have introduced a number of supports to assist sectors in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and social restrictions necessary in the interests of public health.
During 2020, the COVID-19 Stability Fund supported close to 600 organisations to continue to deliver vital services to the communities that depend on them. A further allocation of €10m was provided to the Stability Fund for 2021 as part of the revised Resilience and Recovery plan announced on Tuesday 23rd February by the Taoiseach. The COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 was launched on Thursday 6th May, and was targeted at organisations, who meet the published criteria, and which deliver critical services to vulnerable people within their community but which now face closure or a loss of service due to the impact of the pandemic. To date 180 organisations have been approved for funding under the 2021 fund and another announcement will be made shortly. A number of mental health and suicide prevention charities were supported through the COVID 19 Stability Fund in 2020 and 2021.
The Stability Fund is now closed. As the country moves to a new phase of living with COVID-19 and restrictions are eased, there are no plans to reopen the Stability Fund. In general, I would encourage all organisations to continue to engage with their Local Authority and Local Development Company, and to check on the Gov.ie website in order to be aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
My Department will continue to work with community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, building on our mission to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
