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For Oral Answer on : 23/02/2023
Question Number(s): 6 Question Reference(s): 9020/23
Department: Rural and Community Development
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department is supporting men’s sheds and sister sheds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men’s and Women’s Sheds.
Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,200 Men’s Shed projects have received funding of over €2 million, and 60 Women’s Shed projects received almost €72,500 in funding.
To date, 110 Men’s sheds received €174,766; and 5 Women’s sheds received €6,574, in Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) supports. 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 iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 and will cease on 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three-year period of the scheme.
Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to the IMSA, to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.
This funding complements the €100,000 ring-fenced funding I announced last October to support the growing network of Women’s Sheds.
Separately, Men’s and Women’s Sheds can also apply for funding under the Community Support Fund (CSF) which I launched last November. This €10m fund was set up to help small community groups with their energy/running costs but will also provide funding for small capital works projects.
