Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2025

Vol. 1064 No. 4

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

School Funding

Deputy John Lahart

I am grateful to the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, for taking this topical issue.

I want to raise the issue of the Sacred Heart school in Killinarden in my constituency. It is a DEIS school. I am grateful for the fact that the DEIS programme has been essential in addressing the disadvantage in the school. Sacred Heart and the Killinarden area are ninth out of just over 3,000 disadvantaged areas in the country. Therefore, it is an area considered to have high deprivation, but that is not what I want to focus on. There is a marvellous school and a fantastic school community made up of amazing pupils, parents and grandparents, who have been in touch in the past few days, their teachers, cleaners, caretakers, other staff and everybody else involved in the running of the school. It is a typical 1970s or 1980s school. Pupil numbers may have been dropping off, but not in any kind of dramatic way. There are still at least 300 pupils between both schools, the junior national school and the senior national school. As the Minister of State will appreciate, the running costs of a school do not change regardless of how many pupils are in that school. Unfortunately, capitation grants to the school do drop as numbers drop. That, to some degree, is at the heart of what needs to be addressed here.

The school management and principals furnished me with details approximately a month ago - this problem goes back further than that - with a whole list and string of essential works that have been identified by a contractor as needing to be undertaken in the school, from fire alarm works to heating systems, including boilers, and the insulation of the roof or lack thereof, all of which are related to the running costs of the school, which, when not addressed, lead to increased running costs in the school.

The school ran a deficit of €65,000 in 2022-23. As the management pointed out to me, capitation funding is intended to contribute to day-to-day running costs of schools and consequently should be used to meet the costs of items such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and the general upkeep of the school. At the heart of this is the issue that the school's capitation grant in 2023-24 amounted to €41,705 but the bill for heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep for the same year was nearly €26,000 more at €66,000. What does a school do when faced with those figures? It has to cut. By God, the school needed to be imaginative and creative in making cuts it did not want to make while still keeping the show on the road. For example, some staff have agreed to clean and hoover their own rooms. These are small gestures. The actions taken by the junior school include tea lady cuts and cuts to cleaning, music classes, dance classes and art therapy. Private assessments are now not available for students because of this funding issue. The staff were issued with a no-spend rule by management, so they cannot spend anything. The school has done its fair share, and I am grateful for some of the measures that were taken instantly today, but faced with existential issues from a financial point of view, the school took dramatic action last week. As one of the TDs for the area, I have been trying to address that, which is why I have brought this to the floor of the Chamber this evening.

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Marian Harkin)

I thank Deputy Lahart for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House on behalf of the Minister for Education the position regarding the financial situation in Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden.

The Department of Education has been made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the school as quickly as necessary to avoid any further uncertainty. In order to support the school, some more information is needed. The Deputy has provided me with some information this evening, and I shall certainly see that it is passed on to the Minister, but the Department requires further information and has asked the school to provide this. The school is currently engaging with the FSSU for this purpose. In order to address the immediate cash flow issues in the school, the capitation grant funding due to be paid to the school in June 2025 will be paid to the school before the end of this week. The Department is keeping in contact with the school and the patron in order that appropriate support can be provided to the school.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants, as the Deputy said, are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022. As part of the capitation package in budget 2025, the Department is pleased to have secured more than €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of approximately 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates.

This increase is on top of a 9.2% increase from last year's budget. This brings the standard rate of capitation grant to a level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Of course, enhanced rates will be paid in respect of schools with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks, and getting best value for money for all school expenditure. In addition to these grants, €45 million of cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.

I am running a bit short on time but I can say to the Deputy that the financial support services unit, FSSU, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow, and that the school was referred to the FSSU by the Department. The FSSU is conducting an assessment of the school's financial position while also providing guidance and support to the school.

Deputy John Lahart

I thank the Minister of State for the response. My understanding from the school is that the FSSU has got involved a second time. Part of its advice to the school was that it reach out to the community. I want to let the FSSU know, as a TD from the area, that it really needs to grasp the breadth and intensity of the challenges that face the school in this area. It is not possible for this school to reach out to the community for assistance. The ancillary grant in 2023 and 2024 amounted to €8,268, but the school's actual spend was €28,000. They have squeezed the pips out of the resources that they have available to them. In an area of deep deprivation, as the Minister of State understands, the school provides the only opportunity many of the pupils in the school have to experience extracurricular activities. It has had to cut a number of those back, whether it be the panto at Christmas or tours, because they cannot afford to pay for buses. They have had to curtail many of these things. The area is ageing and has no new builds. New builds are due on stream, which will bolster the numbers, but in an old building, whether there are 50 or 500 pupils, the costs of running it are actually the same. I will finish on this and look forward to the Minister of State's response.

I welcome the speedy intervention by the Minister and the Department this morning. I welcome their commitment to addressing the immediate needs, in other words, to advance the capitation grant that was due in June this year by the end of this week. That is fantastic news. The school needs a structured approach from the Department and the financial support services unit within the Department. The school needs its hand held and real money in a structured way, not a stop-gap way, to allow it to plan and deliver what all the teachers, special needs assistants, and the entire school community, including parents, grandparents, teachers and management alike, want, which is a top-class education, which is what they get, and to ensure that it is not undermined in any shape or form. Threats about the future of the school because of its financial viability do nobody any justice and do not help anybody trying to provide education for our children.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position in relation to the financial situation in Sacred Heart school, Killinarden, and the ongoing support that the Department of Education is providing. I speak on behalf of the Minister for Education. That is what I can do. I hear what the Deputy is saying. I hear that circumstances are such that the advice being given to the school is probably not advice it is in a position to take. Reaching out to the community probably is not possible, as the Deputy said. The school has done everything it can. While my response here tells me that the advance in capitation grant funding is being provided to the school to alleviate current cashflow issues and that the FSSU, on behalf of the Department, will also continue to work with and support the school in the longer term, I still hear what the Deputy is saying, that this in itself, while useful and positive, is not sufficient to manage the crisis that seems to be facing the school. All I can promise is that I have heard what the Deputy said, I have taken some notes, and I will ensure they are brought to the relevant Minister's attention.

Water Services

Deputy Darren O'Rourke

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for discussion tonight and the Minister of State for being here. This is a familiar issue which is frustrating for residents and business owners in the area of Duleek, Donore and surrounding areas. The issue is creaking water infrastructure leading to water bursts all too frequently. They are unscheduled and in many cases are for many hours. It happened as recently as yesterday, the day before, ten days before that, and the day before that. It is a pattern like that. It has a real impact on businesses, hairdressers, shops, cafés, coffee shops, delicatessens, large industry, small and medium enterprises, medically-vulnerable households and kids. Parents were in contact with me about newborn twins on St. Patrick's Day. The burst caused a flood in individual residences, flooding the house and garage, and everything that goes with that.

I am sure some of the Minister of State's response will refer to the investment plan that exists. I acknowledge that. In the past, I have raised other issues in County Meath and they have successfully been progressed, for example, in Ashbourne and Ratoath. I know there are ongoing works for the improvement of the line between Duleek and Navan, for example. I know there is a commitment to improve the line between Stalleen and Windmill Hill reservoir, which the Minister of State will probably refer to. My concern is that it is at a very early stage. It is a large 18-km project and a major commitment to it is needed. The Government, the Department and Uisce Éireann need to look at the phasing of that. It is clear that what is happening at the minute is that the water infrastructure and the mains between Stalleen and Duleek are creaking. I have colleagues and friends who are forensically familiar with the network. They will say that whole pipe, in that whole field, has been completely replaced because there have been so many bursts and the bursts just keep moving up the pipe. A patch-up job is happening and every patch-up leads to another burst and so on. It is frustrating for businesses, households, residents and everybody concerned.

My specific ask on behalf of the community is that this project be identified as a priority, funded and fast-tracked for delivery. I am suggesting that this would involve phasing of it whereby this is not one single project which is 18 km long. There are proposals from Uisce Éireann. There is a way to phase this such that its delivery could be fast-tracked. I believe that is needed. I know there is a commitment from the Government in respect of the climate and infrastructure fund and the review of the national development plan. That is what is needed here.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising the need to discuss the water supply issues in Duleek and Stalleen. I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who is my colleague in the Department. I appreciate Deputy O'Rourke's concerns for the services and businesses affected. He has outlined it very well.

The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the public water supply, together with operational issues locally, are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at the national, regional and local level. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, neither I, as Minister of State, nor my Department has an operational function in the matter to which the Deputy refers. However, I have made specific inquiries and am informed that there have been a number of bursts on the Duleek to Staleen water main in recent weeks, as the Deputy noted. Uisce Éireann would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. Their focus is always on ensuring the water supply is returned to all customers as quickly as possible.

Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the Staleen to Duleek water main following the water outages in recent weeks. The Deputy referred to the substantial body of work. Uisce Éireann is looking at this specific issue and it is something I specifically inquired about today. Uisce Éireann is developing several strategically important drinking water projects in this area and it is worth going through the details of those.

Uisce Éireann is progressing the Duleek to Navan trunk water main project, which is one of a number of strategically important projects under way to increase the security and resilience of drinking water supply across County Meath. This project represents an investment of €41 million to safeguard the water supply to homes and businesses in Navan. The provision of this new 16 km regional trunk water main and pumping station will create a strategic link between the Staleen water treatment plant, at a point just south of Duleek, and the Proudstown and Carn Hill reservoirs, which provide treated water storage for Navan.

Uisce Éireann is also progressing plans to replace and increase the capacity of the existing water pipeline from Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir. This is another strategically important project to increase the security and resilience of drinking water supply across County Meath. The project team is currently engaging with landowners to determine the route selection.

Uisce Éireann has a communications protocol in place for all planned interruptions whereby customers are notified in advance, including a text alert system that customers can sign up to.

I have no doubt it has been difficult and distressing for homeowners, people who are renting and businesses due to the leaks between Staleen and Duleek. As I said, Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the issue with the Staleen to Duleek water main following the outage in recent weeks and it is actively following up on this. I note the point the Deputy raises with regard to a phased approach and it is something I will bring back to the Minister and Uisce Éireann. The Deputy might follow up with direct correspondence to the Minister and we can then follow up with Uisce Éireann on that point. The more immediate issue of the outage in Duleek is being actively looked at by Uisce Éireann.

Deputy Darren O'Rourke

The solution is the immediate prioritisation or fast-tracking of the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project. I want to put a couple of points on the record. A public meeting is scheduled on this issue for tomorrow week, Thursday, at 8.30 p.m. in the Duleek-Bellewstown community centre. I would encourage representatives of Uisce Éireann and the Minister or Minister of State with responsibility to attend that. The meeting is organised by Senator Sharon Keogan and it will be important to have cross-party representation, with all of our local representatives there and working with the local community to speak with one voice on this project.

I would repeat the substantial point. While I acknowledge the points the Minister of State has made, the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project is a major project that is some 18 km long. The Minister of State has outlined the current position, which is that it is still at the stage of consultation with landowners. This is a massive project and it will take a long time but the residents and businesses in this area cannot wait a long time. I am making the case that we look at the project with a view to getting it from Staleen to beyond Duleek in the first instance. It cross-cuts with the existing network and there are points where it could tie back in with the existing network. However, that section of the project must be prioritised. We need to find a long-term solution and it needs to be delivered quickly due to these continued outages.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I once again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge the patience and co-operation of residents and businesses in Duleek, Staleen and surrounding areas who have been affected by these outages. Uisce Éireann would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. It is always about ensuring that the water supply is returned to all customers as quickly as possible. As I have said, Uisce Éireann is currently reviewing the Staleen to Duleek water main following the water outage in recent weeks.

On the particular matter in respect of the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project, the Deputy has acknowledged that the project is under way and he has put forward a proposal with regard to a phased approach. Once again, it is a matter that we will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and ask that the matter be taken up with Uisce Éireann. If he wishes, the Deputy can write directly to the Minister on the particular matter and it is something we can take up.

School Funding

Deputy Duncan Smith

On a positive note, this is my first Topical Issue of this Dáil term. In the last term, too many Topical Issues would have been taken by one Minister of State. What we have tonight is a selection of Ministers and Ministers of State who are directly related to the topic. I hope that continues as much as possible through this Dáil term. It is something we brought up at the Dáil reform committee in one of its rare outbreaks of constructive discussion so far.

I would like to raise the matter of the financial constraints impacting many schools, which was also raised on the first Topical Issue matter this evening. I would like to raise it with specific reference to St. Cronan’s Junior National School in Swords. St. Cronan’s Junior National School is an amazing school. I know it is very easy for a TD to say that about any school in a constituency but it is true of St. Cronan’s Junior National School. The work it does specifically in the area of special education would take your breath away. Unfortunately, what has taken away the breath of the school in the last couple of weeks is the latest electricity bill, which came in at nearly €22,000 when split between the junior and senior national schools. This compares with a bill last year of about €8,000, so it has gone up by approximately €14,000.

The school is tied to a rate that is agreed through procurement with the Department. The previous rate per kilowatt was 5 cent and 7 cent and this year it is 14 cent and 15.82 cent. That is actually a competitive rate in the marketplace so the complaint is not about the rate as such, but that the school is tied into it, as are other schools. This highlights the leap in cost to the school due to electricity prices.

It has to pay this out of the capitation grant, for which it gets approximately €100,000 per year. That may sound like a lot of money but when it has 500 students and has to pay insurance, cleaning, heat, light and other expenses, it quickly gets eaten up. Schools are struggling to break even and 70% are running in deficit, as we know. Therefore, the responsibility is then placed on parents through voluntary contributions and school fundraisers, which are becoming increasingly difficult as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.

The Minister of State responded earlier that there will be an increase in the capitation grant rate in September 2025. I do not think this will be enough for this or other schools to meet the heating and electricity costs that face them. This needs to be looked at within a budgetary cycle and I ask the Minister of State to take that back to the Department.

What is happening with the likes of St. Cronan's and other schools is unsustainable.

I wish to highlight how creative and forward-thinking schools like St. Cronan's are. It put some solar panels on its roof a couple of years ago. It was done through the emergency works scheme. It got approximately 15 or 16 solar panels, which is equivalent to the average semi-detached home. It is not a lot. It meant the school got about €200 back last July in credits so it is very marginal. When the school applied to get more solar panels through the previous Government's solar panel scheme for schools, it was told it was not allowed because it already received a few solar panels through a different funding stream. Something that could be done very quickly would be to relax the rules to ensure that schools that got solar panels through another scheme can avail of the solar panel scheme to increase their energy efficiency. That could be done instantly. I am interested in hearing the Minister of State's response. Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden and many other schools are not coming forward to state that they are facing the same financial challenges as those faced by St. Cronan's.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan’s Junior National School in Swords. I fully accept that the school does extraordinary work.

The Department of Education was not made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the school as quickly as necessary to avoid any further uncertainty. In order to support the school, some more information is needed about the school’s financial situation. The Department made initial contact with the school on this matter on 18 March 2025. The school has confirmed that the issue relates to a massive increase in electricity costs. It is working with the financial support services unit, FSSU, and the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, framework on the matter.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 36/2022.

As part of the capitation package in budget 2025, the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of around 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure. The FSSU, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cash flow management, and is actively engaging with the school in question.

Deputy Duncan Smith

The school contacted me this afternoon to acknowledge that contact had been made with the Department. It is working through it. I discussed whether the school wanted me to continue to raise this issue tonight and it indicated I should because this is a wider issue that will continue.

The Minister of State stated that schools have the flexibility to use their capitation grants. Schools are bending over backwards multiple times to be as flexible as possible to stretch the money they are getting to ensure the light and heat stay on and the school remains clean. The free books scheme is brilliant, as is the school meals programme, of which I am a great fan because it has been a wonderful innovation and has accelerated in the past couple of years. St. Cronan's is availing of that scheme. These schemes will be damaged if we do not get the basics right or do not fund schools. Students end up being taught in cold rooms or rooms that must be dimly lit or not lit at all. It is not about striking the crisis bell. It is about acknowledging, in a rational and calm manner, the seriousness of this issue.

We have great school principals. We have young principals with many more years left to give who are probably spending too much time having to sort out and meet financial deficits and needs that should be borne by the State so that they can focus on the provision of learning, special education and everything we want to see our teachers and educators working on, as opposed to basic administration which should be resolved. We will come back to this again.

I ask the Minister of State to take the issue of solar panels away immediately. It could be looked at. The Labour Party will make provision for increased capitation in our alternative budget this year.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan's Junior National School in Swords and the ongoing support the Department of Education is providing. In addition to the grants I mentioned, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This additional funding announced in budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

I hear what the Deputy is saying and I am aware that there has been a significant increase in costs and that it is a wider issue. I also hear what he said about solar panels. I will certainly bring that to the attention of the appropriate Minister because it is worth looking at.

The FSSU, on behalf of the Department, plays a crucial role in this process. In order for the Department to properly assess the current financial situation, the school needs to engage with the FSSU for this purpose. I believe that engagement has started. The Department will refer the school to the FSSU once confirmation of the situation has been confirmed by the school, which I believe has already started.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú)

I concur with what Deputy Duncan Smith said about all the Ministers showing up. We did not see this before and I think it is very beneficial.

Men's Sheds

Deputy Seamus Healy

I thank the Minister for Rural and Community Development for coming to the Chamber to respond to this issue, which concerns men's sheds.

I have been contacted by 17 different men's sheds in County Tipperary, including those in Ballagh, Ballina, Borrisokane, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clogheen, Clonmel, Fethard, Glengoole, Moycarky, Mullinahone, Nenagh, Roscrea, Silvermines, Thurles and Tipperary town. There is serious concern in the men's sheds movement, both in the county and nationally, about funding into the future. The members have serious concerns about the future viability and sustainability of the sheds. This is because of the reduction in grants available for the period from 1 June 2024 to 30 May 2025.

In 2023-24, a ring-fenced grant of €1.15 million was available for in excess of 450 sheds. These grants were for up to €3,000 per shed. Of course that money was a lifeline for the sheds and was most critical to their continued existence and sustainability. The sheds are stand-alone and they rely totally on donations and on State grants. The concern is the grant may not be available in 2024-25 and certainly not to the extent it was available in 2023-24. The new grant scheme is not ring-fenced and is distributed among a large number of community organisations. Obviously, the sheds and the community organisations welcome any grants that may be available. The outcome for the sheds, however, is that grant amount will be greatly reduced, with each shed likely to receive a grant amount of between €250 and €500. The shortfall in the grant could be in the region of €2,500 per shed, which would make the sheds unsustainable and inevitably lead to the closure of many of the of the shads.

As the Minister is aware, the sheds are unique for a number of reasons. First, they need dedicated rooms or buildings to carry out their activities. They may purchase, rent or lease properties. Running costs for sheds are higher than normal community organisations because of maintenance, utilities, heating and lighting, which are very costly, and insurance which is quite high as well. Materials is re another issue which may not arise in other organisations. There can also be fair wear and tear of equipment.

All in all, the sheds are seriously concerned about their future viability and existence. I ask the Minister to have the ring-fenced grants that were available 2023-24 reinstated, which would alleviate the concerns and fears of members and ensure the continued existence of the sheds.

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Dara Calleary)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of funding for men’s sheds. I acknowledge the fantastic work they do in County Tipperary and throughout the island. The emergence of men’s sheds has been a highly positive development for communities - not just men - across Ireland. The sheds provide an invaluable service, helping to tackle social isolation and providing a space for people to come together, socialise and build friendships. They also many provide many valuable services and crafts in the community.

The current programme for Government contains a commitment to “support local groups like Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and Active Retirement communities” and to “Continue to fund Men’s and Women’s Sheds”. The local enhancement programme referred to by the Deputy provides small grants to community groups to enhance their facilities. In general, support under the LEP is available to, for example, parish halls, community centres, local development associations and men’s sheds. Under the LEP community enhancement programme, men's sheds have been entitled to apply for funding as well as having a proportion of the funding ring-fenced for them in some years. Since 2018, more than €2.3 million in funding was allocated to approximately 1,370 men's sheds under the community enhancement programme of the local enhancement programme.

In addition, my Department has also provided funding to men's sheds through its representative body, the Irish Men's Sheds Association. In November 2022 and December 2023, funding of €800,000 and €1 million, respectively, was announced to support men’s sheds throughout the country with running costs, such as electricity and insurance bills, as Deputy Healy mentioned. This funding supported the sustainability of men’s sheds with their increased running costs, particularly as many had a challenge to re-establish sheds in the wake of the pandemic. The individual grants were distributed to the men’s sheds via the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. A total of 378 sheds received funding under the 2023 allocation, with grant funding of up to €3,000 awarded.

Late last year my officials reached out to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association with regard to funding needs. Representatives of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association advised my officials that they were not in a position to submit a proposal for distribution of grants to men’s sheds at that time. They have reached out since, however, and we are trying to arrange a meeting in the coming weeks to receive a funding proposal from the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, which I will then consider.

I am very aware of the importance of each individual shed to its members, and of the contribution the shed makes to its members' lives and their communities. I will discuss this proposal with officials in my Department when I receive it.

Deputy Seamus Healy

As the Minister has said, the continued existence and sustainability of men's sheds is vital for a number of reasons and he mentioned some of them there. They provide support for members by tackling a range of physical and mental health conditions and helping to provide inherent health benefits to a quarter of the population who are disproportionately affected by health issues. They also provide support to other local community organisations, for instance the elderly, meals on wheels and possibly daycare centres.

I have a copy of local enhancement programme from Tipperary County Council which indicates that the grants available this year in 2024-25 under the scheme could be as low as €500. If that were to continue, it would mean many of the sheds would not be in a position to continue in existence, which would have serious knock-on effects on their members and the local communities.

The sheds appreciate the Government assistance and especially the assistance in the past. They wish to see the ring-fenced grants reinstated. I welcome the Minister's reference in the reply to the proposal which it is hoped will come from the Irish Men's Sheds Association and his commitment to consider that. I take it that any consideration of that would be an increase in funding over and above what is available under the local enhancement scheme.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I will not give any specific commitment until I engage on the proposal. Nationally, the local enhancement programme has a €7 million budget for 2025. Applications for that closed on 7 March and will be dealt with quickly. I look forward to meeting representatives of the Irish Men's Sheds Association and to engaging with them. I know I speak for the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, as well in sharing our commitment to supporting them. I express my absolute appreciation of the work they do, not only in my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development but also as Minister for Social Protection. The work they do is fantastic. It is a model that has bounced back after the pandemic as a result of considerable hard work. I support the work they do and the contribution they make across the island. I look forward to working with them over the course of my term as Minister.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 9.40 p.m. go dtí 9 a.m., Déardaoin, an 20 Márta 2025.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.40 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Thursday, 20 March 2025.