Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
51. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications that have been made by an organisation (details supplied) across all schemes that were received by her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022. [27817/22]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports which Men's Sheds availed of in 2021 and 2022, depending on the works being completed.
For example, in 2021, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided funding of €4.5m for small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities. To date, 68 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €126,804 from the 2021 CEP.
In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. To date, 79 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €111,406 from this fund. The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects will be available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.
In 2021, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provided small grants totalling over €41,000 to 44 Men’s Sheds. In 2022, to date SICAP has provided grants totalling over €5,800 to 5 Men’s Sheds.
Since 2021, 10 projects either for, or by Men’s Shed organisations have been approved for LEADER funding for a total of €264,087.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) 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 COVID-19 Stability Funding in 2020. The association did not apply for funding in 2021.
