Holly Cairns
Question:242. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams available to men’s sheds to acquire their own premises to operate out of. [15505/22]
View answerWednesday, 23 March 2022
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Written answers
My Department provides a range of supports which Men's and Women's Sheds can avail of depending on the works being completed.
Since 2018, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided capital funding for community groups which included €0.5m that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds and again in 2019, €0.5m was ring-fenced under the programme for both Men's & Women's Sheds. The CEP ran again in 2020 and 2021 providing small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities and towards the reopening of facilities.
In November 2021 the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched and it continues into 2022 to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. This fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running/operating costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Men's and Women's Sheds are free to apply for this funding via their LCDCs, and should contact them directly to submit an application.
Funding for projects may also be available through the LEADER Transitional programme. This will cover the period 2021-2022, and came into effect on the 1 April 2021 for new project applications.
Since 2018 the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to over 200 Men’s Sheds, with small grants totalling over €98,000 awarded to 116 Men’s Sheds. This support is still is available from SICAP.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current scheme runs from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2022. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was allocated €270,000 over the three year period of the scheme. My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the Stability Fund in 2020, with €70,424 in current funding to support the organisation to continue to deliver services despite the challenges brought by COVID-19.
I encourage all organisations to check on www.gov.ie and to keep in touch with their local LCDC for information around funding opportunities.