Written Answers Nos. 951-961
951. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé athbhreithniú ar chás lánúine (sonraí curtha ar fáil) faoi Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) na Gaeltachta, an nglacfadh sé leis go raibh dúshláin ar leith ann ós rud é go raibh na daltaí san idirbhliain, an tionchar a bhí aige sin ar líon na laethanta freastail a d’fhág go bhfuair na soláthraithe lóistín íocaíocht laghdaithe ina dhiaidh sin h. [53013/26]
View answerFaoin scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta, a thagann faoi scáth Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus a cuireadh tús léi in 2007, cuirtear maoiniú suas le €192,000 in aghaidh na bliana ar fáil chun cur ar chumas suas le 30 scoláire iar-bhunscoile in aghaidh na bliana scoilbhliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag freastal ar aon cheann de na trí iar-bhunscoil ar Oileáin Árann.
Ba cheart a nótáil go ndéantar gach éileamh íocaíochta a chuirtear faoi bhráid mo Roinne a phróiseáil ina n-aonar agus go cruinn agus go mbraitheann siad ar na doiciméid a chuireann an scoil ar fáil do mo Roinn. Tar éis d'oifigigh mo Roinne athscrúdú a dhéanamh ar an gcás atá luaite ag an Teachta, is féidir a dheimhniú gur comhlíonadh na coinníollacha atá leagtha síos don scéim agus gur íocadh an teaghlach lena mbaineann laistigh den bhanda/ráta íocaíochta cuí a bhí i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2025/26.
In 2023 rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú ar an Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta agus rinneadh an cinneadh leasú a dhéanamh ar an socrú a bhí i bhfeidhm maidir leis an deontas iníoctha faoin scéim i ndáil le tréimhsí neamhláithreachta scoláirí ionas go mbeadh deontas iníoctha faoin scéim le teaghlaigh oileáin le haghaidh oícheanta nach mbeadh scoláire/scoláirí i láthair sa teach.
Tugadh isteach bandaí íocaíochta dá réir agus clúdaíonn na bandaí íocaíochta cúiseanna éagsúla a d'fhéadfadh tarlú nach mbeadh ar chumas scoláirí freastal ar an oileán, eadhon tinneas, drochaimsir, cluichí, cúrsaí clainne, sochraid nó eile, agus cinntíonn siad go bhfaigheann teaghlaigh íocaíocht as lóistín agus cúiteamh cuí as neamhláithreacht.
Seo a leanas na bandaí íocaíochta a bhí i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2025/26 agus na bandaí a bheidh i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2026/27:
|
Méid oícheanta ar an oileán |
Deontas reatha na scoilbhliana 2025/26 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €35.50 |
Deontas scoilbhliana 2026/27 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €37 |
|
140 – 160 |
€5,700 |
€6,000 |
|
161 – 180 |
€6,400 |
€6,700 |
|
181 – 200 |
€7,100 |
€7,400 |
De réir an tábla thuas íoctar teaghlaigh ag brath ar an mbanda íocaíochta cuí, ach i gcásanna nach raibh scoláirí i láthair ar an oileán ar feadh an íoslíon 140 oíche, íocadh an deontas laethúil de €35.50 leis na teaghlaigh faoin scéim as na hoícheanta a chaith scoláirí ar iostas leo.
Is 166 lá scoile atá sa bhféilire scoile agus, ar na cúiseanna thuasluaite, ní gá go mbíonn na scoláirí ar an oileán ar feadh thréimhse iomlán na laethanta seo.
952. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh se breac-chuntas ar Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) na Gaeltachta, ar thábhacht na scéime do phobail na n-oileán, ar na buntáistí do mhic léinn, do scoileanna in Árainn agus do gheilleagar na n-oileán, an nglacann sé leis go mbíonn costais mhóra ann do theaghlaigh óstacha i dtaca leis an gcaitheamh agus cuimilt a bhaineann le daltaí a bheith ag fanacht leo ar feadh bliain iomlán agus an smaoineoidh sé ar sholáthar solúbtha, scéim réalaíoch spriocdhírithe a chur i bhfeidhm chun cabhrú le húinéirí tí i leith costais bhreise [53014/26]
View answerIs tacaíocht í Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta - faoi scáth Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge - don trí iar-bhunscoil ar Oileáin Árann - Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Inis Mór, Coláiste Ghobnait, Inis Oírr, agus Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin.
Cinntíonn an scéim seo go mbeidh daonra scoile leordhóthanach ag na trí scoil ar na hoileáin. Caitheann scoláirí ón mórthír scoilbhliain iomlán ar na hoileáin agus iad tumtha sa teanga agus i gcultúr an oileáin. Tá na trí scoil faoi phátrúnacht Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin (BOOGRC), agus is iad atá ag riar na scéime thar ceann mo Roinne. Ceadaítear uasmhéid de 30 scoláire faoin scéim; 10 scoláire in aghaidh na scoile.
Tá tionchar forleathan ag an scéim ó thaobh deiseanna foghlama teanga a sholáthar d’fhoglaimeoirí na teanga agus do gheilleagar na n-oileán, mar aon le méadú ar líon na ndaoine a thagann chuig na ceantair.
Tá maoiniú á chur ar fáil ag mo Roinn do theaghlaigh aitheanta faoin scéim le haghaidh costais lóistín do na scoláirí. Íocann mo Roinn deontas le teaghlaigh atá cláraithe faoin scéim agus a bhfuil scoláirí ag fanacht leo agus iad ag freastal ar an scoil i rith na scoilbhliana. Leis an ardú a thug mé isteach le déanaí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, is é €37 - ardú ó €35.50 - in aghaidh na hoíche in aghaidh an scoláire an ráta don scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta don scoilbhliain 2026/27.
É sin ráite, tá bandaí íocaíochta i bhfeidhm faoin scéim ó 2023, tar éis athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an scéim ó thaobh méid agus minicíochta na n-íocaíochtaí. Clúdaíonn na bandaí tréimhse neamhláthaireachta i gcás nach bhfuil an scoláire in ann fanacht leis an teaghlach ar chúiseanna éagsúla a d’fhéadfadh tarlú. Má fhaigheann scoláire atá ag fanacht leis an teaghlach níos lú nó níos mó oícheanta ná mar atá leagtha amach sna bandaí, íoctar an ráta oíche ar na hoícheannta sin. Cinntíonn sé seo go dtugtar cúiteamh leordhóthanach do theaghlaigh a sholáthraíonn cóiríocht.
Seo a leanas na bandaí íocaíochta a bhí i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2025/26 agus na bandaí a bheidh i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2026/27:
|
Méid oícheanta ar an oileán |
Deontas reatha na scoilbhliana 2025/26 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €35.50 |
Deontas scoilbhliana 2026/27 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €37 |
|
140 – 160 |
€5,700 |
€6,000 |
|
161 – 180 |
€6,400 |
€6,700 |
|
181 – 200 |
€7,100 |
€7,400 |
Tá socrú i bhfeidhm chomh maith go n-íoctar cúiteamh coicíse breise le teaghlaigh i leith aon scoláire a fhágann an scéim roimh dheireadh na scoilbhliana.
Anuas air sin, tá deontas tosaithe aonuaire ar luach suas le €6,000 nó 80% den chostas, cibé acu is lú, a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh nua a chláraíonn faoin scéim, nó do theaghlaigh a d'fhág an scéim ar feadh cúig bliana nó níos mó agus atá ag filleadh ar an scéim arís. Clúdaíonn an deontas costais a bhaineann le measúnú sábháilteachta dóiteáin, mar aon le costais a bhaineann le hábhair ar leith a bhaineann le lóistín a chur ar fáil.
Ar ábhar gaolmhar, d’fhógair mé deontas uasghrádaithe gearrthéarmach anuraidh do theaghlaigh seanbhunaithe a bhí aitheanta faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge roimh 2019 chun tacú tuilleadh leis an gcostas a bhaineann le troscán nua a cheannach, lena n-áirítear buincleapacha, leapacha singil agus tochtanna singil. Is deontas suas le €2,000 nó 80% den chostas, cibé acu ba lú, a bhí ar fáil do theaghlaigh cháilithe Ghaeltachta faoin scéim.
Leis na bearta seo ar fad, tá mé muiníneach go bhfuil cúnamh suntasach curtha ar chur ar fáil chun cabhrú leis an earnáil agus leanfaidh mé orm de bheith ag tacú léi ag brath ar chistíocht a bheith ar fáil di.
953. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé na critéir a leagan amach do sholáthraithe lóistín ar Oileáin Árann faoi Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) na Gaeltachta, cén ráta a bheadh ann in aghaidh na bliana acadúla, an féidir leis a dheimhniú nach n-íoctar an ráta ach i leith na laethanta a bhíonn dalta i láthair, an n-aontaíonn sé gur rud éagórach é seo ós rud é nach bhfuil aon rogha eile ag an soláthraí ach an leaba a choinneáil don dalta sin is cuma cé acu an bhfuil an dalta á húsáid nó nach bhfuil, cén fhéidearthacht atá ann go gcaillfí ioncam i gcásanna den sórt sin [53015/26]
View answerFaoi Scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta atá á riar ag Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin (BOOGRC) thar ceann na Roinne, caitheann suas le 30 scoláire iar-bhunscoile scoilbhliain iomlán ar cheann de na trí Oileán Árann; Inis Mór, Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr. Is uaslíon de 10 scoláire atá ceadaithe faoin scéim ar gach oileán.
Tá an scéim seo á cur i bhfeidhm i gcomhréir le coinníollacha caighdeánacha Scéim na bhFhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (SFG), coinníollacha nach mór do gach teaghlach a bhaineann leas as an scéim cloí leo.
Íocann an Roinn fóirdheontas leis na teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta atá aitheanta faoi SFG a chuireann lóistín ar fáil don 30 scoláire. Leis an méadú a thug mé isteach le déanaí faoi SFG, is é €37 - ardú ó €35.50 - in aghaidh na hoíche in aghaidh an scoláire an ráta don scéim Oileánda (Árainn) Gaeltachta don scoilbhliain 2026/27.
Tar éis athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an scéim in 2023 ó thaobh méid agus minicíochta na n-íocaíochtaí, tugadh isteach bandaí íocaíochta. Clúdaíonn na bandaí tréimhse neamhláthaireachta i gcás nach bhfuil an scoláire in ann fanacht leis an teaghlach ar chúiseanna éagsúla a d’fhéadfadh tarlú, m.sh. tinneas, drochaimsir, cluichí, cúrsaí clainne, sochraidí agus eile.
Má bhíonn scoláire ar iostas leis an teaghlach ar feadh níos lú nó níos mó oícheanta ná mar atá leagtha amach sna bandaí, íoctar an ráta aon-oíche ar na hoícheannta sin. Cinntíonn sé seo go dtugtar cúiteamh leordhóthanach do theaghlaigh a sholáthraíonn cóiríocht.
Seo a leanas na bandaí íocaíochta a bhí i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2025/26 agus na bandaí a bheidh i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2026/27:
|
Méid oícheanta ar an oileán
|
Deontas reatha na scoilbhliana 2025/26 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €35.50 |
Deontas scoilbhliana 2026/27 (x1 scoláire) Ráta: €37 |
|
140 – 160 |
€5,700 |
€6,000 |
|
161 – 180 |
€6,400 |
€6,700 |
|
181 – 200 |
€7,100 |
€7,400 |
Tá socrú i bhfeidhm chomh maith go n-íoctar cúiteamh coicíse breise le teaghlaigh i leith aon scoláire a fhágann an scéim roimh dheireadh na scoilbhliana.
Déantar na híocaíochtaí i dtrí thráthchuid leis na teaghlaigh a chuireann lóistín ar fáil i rith na scoilbhliana.
Mar thoradh air seo ar fad, agus an méadú a cheadaigh mé i mbliana á chur san áireamh, meastar go bhféadfadh an teaghlach ioncaim breise a thuilleamh sa scoilbhliain seo chugainn le hais na scoilbhliana atá thart.
954. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he has proposals to extend eligibility for safety pendants under the seniors alert scheme to vulnerable persons under 66 years-of-age that live alone in geographically isolated areas and who have a serious illness; the reason such supports are currently unavailable to people under 66 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53042/26]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant and one year of monitoring.
The scheme has an allocation of €3.2million in 2026, with additional support from the 2026 Dormant Accounts Fund. As it is a demand led scheme, it is kept under continuous review to ensure funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants.
The Scheme has been broadened over recent iterations to make it as accessible as possible, including a revision of the living at home requirements. However, while the scheme is under regular review, there are no plans at present to extend it to people under 65. I would advise that the HSE is best placed to advise and assist on matters of disability and/or medical issues, including telehealth solutions.
The costs of the scheme are kept under consideration on a regular basis in order to provide the most economic and efficient service for as many participants as possible.
955. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the existing legal requirements, if any, for religious and charitable organisations to disclose the source of foreign funding; and whether his Department has considered introducing a foreign funding disclosure regime similar to those in place in other EU states. [53240/26]
View answer956. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether any risk assessment has been conducted into foreign funding of religious or community organisations operating in the State; and if not, whether such an assessment is planned. [53241/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 955 and 956 together.
The Charities Regulator, under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with a mandate to promote good governance practice. While the Regulator is under the aegis of my Department, it is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions.
I understand that a Foreign Funding Disclosure regime, as referred to in the Deputy's question, is a taxation issue and therefore a matter for Revenue.
Notwithstanding this, as part of the Annual Report which all charities are required to submit to the Regulator, information on total income from outside the state is sought, as well as countries to which finances are sent.
Furthermore, as part of the 2026 National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing, the Regulator has committed to incorporating Terrorist Financing vulnerability into its charity risk assessment process.
All information received is used to inform the risk profile of individual charities.
957. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 349 of 1 July 2026, whether he consider SICAP to constitute a significant source of start-up funding for social enterprises given that, for every €1,000 allocated through SICAP, approximately €2.15 is awarded to social enterprises, only around 1.5% of social enterprises receive SICAP funding annually, and the average award is €1,284; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53358/26]
View answerThe overall aims and objectives of Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) are to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration, including collaboration with social enterprises providing services or supports to SICAP’s 12 Target Groups.
In recognition of the importance of engaging social enterprises to effect positive change, the current iteration of SICAP, 2024 to 2028, contains a revised Key Performance Indicator for Goal 1, which now explicitly includes provision of social enterprise supports, financial and non-financial, as working towards achievement of Goal 1 objectives.
Data for 2024 and 2025 indicates 473 social enterprises were supported in 2024, and this increased to 501 in 2025. Of that 501, 28% were new registrations to the programme, highlighting SICAP’s growing role in supporting the establishment of social enterprises through capacity building and small-scale financial supports, up to a maximum of €2,500 per social enterprise per annum.
For every €1,000 in core funding allocated through SICAP in 2025, approximately €3.10 was awarded to social enterprises. This was broadly similar in 2024, where the rate was €3.18. The average award per grant in 2025 was €1,216.03, compared to €1,424.45 in 2024. Based on national social enterprise data, it is estimated that 2.88% of social enterprises received SICAP funding in 2025, up from 2.4% in 2024.
While social enterprises have, of course, a significant role to play in achieving the objectives of SICAP, the programme itself is not specifically designed to act as a substantive funding source for social enterprises or other community groups and grants available are small-scale in nature. SICAP’s primary focus is delivery of supports to its 12 Target Groups, and providing supports to strengthen organisations’ capabilities in working with those Target Groups to build inclusive and empowered communities and tackle marginalisation and poverty.
The Programme for Government commits to incremental increases in the overall funding for SICAP, which would enable the programme’s capacity to support social enterprises, community groups and individual beneficiaries to be expanded.
958. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aige teach (sonraí curtha ar fáil) a cheannach agus ionad do scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge a dhéanamh de, agus an bhfuil na féidearthachtaí maidir leis an teach a cheannach pléite aige le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [53304/26]
View answerTá mo Roinn ar an eolas go bhfuil ceist ardaithe maidir leis an áitreabh atá luaite ag an Teachta agus é ar díol anois. Níl aon teagmháil déanta ag an phobal nó ag aon choiste ábhartha leis an Roinn faoin ábhar seo, áfach.
Cuirtear cúnamh caipitil ar fáil faoin Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga de chuid mo Roinne chun tacú le heagraíochtaí agus coistí pobail fud fad na Gaeltachta chun áiseanna pobail agus teanga a chur ar fáil nó a uasghrádú. Is féidir le coistí nó eagraíochtaí pobalbhunaithe, a fheidhmíonn trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, iarratas a dhéanamh faoin gClár. Tá critéir incháilithe agus coinníollacha bainteach leis an chlár agus tá eolas faoin chlár sin le fáil ar shuíomh mo Roinne. Tá an clár seo oscailte d'iarratais ó cheann ceann an bliana agus níl aon spriocdháta faoi leith ann chun iarratas a dhéanamh.
Ach iarratas a bheith faighte, dhéanfaí é a mheas i gcomhthéacs spriocanna an chiste, an tsoláthair airgid atá ar fáil do mo Roinn agus na n-éileamh éagsúla ar an soláthar sin.
959. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through his Department for which individuals or community groups are eligible to apply; the purpose of each grant scheme; the eligibility criteria; the application process; the opening and closing dates for application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53423/26]
View answerMy Department administers a large number of grant schemes and programmes that support communities, community groups and organisations around the country, however it does not provide supports to individuals directly.
The Deputy will be pleased to know that since 2025, over €42 million has been allocated to Galway for rural and community development projects. Detailed information on all schemes and programmes, including details on eligibility criteria, the application process, the values of funds available, deadlines and all allocations awarded to date, can be found on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/drcd
Details of some of the grant schemes and programmes administered by my Department that are available to community groups include:
• The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides capital supports essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas.
• The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) provides funding for investments in Community Centres in order that these vital services remain useable, accessible, and safe and continue to meet the needs of the community into the future.
• The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas including Community Centre enhancements and small-scale refurbishments.
• The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding to support job creation, address de-population of rural communities and support improvements in our towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000.
• The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. It aims to improve the living and working environment of communities and increase their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.
• The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland.
• The LEADER Programme provides funding to support a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
I look forward to the continued positive impact of our grant schemes for communities right across the country, and I would encourage all groups to check my Department’s website, at []www.gov.ie/drcd, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees, Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks, to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
960. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to advise on the way in which funding of €5 million for the new SÍOL Programme for 2026 will be rolled out; when projects are required to be submitted from councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53608/26]
View answerI was delighted to launch the SÍOL programme last week on the 8th July 2026. SÍOL, which translates to ‘Seed’ in English, stands for Scéim Infheistíochta ag Obair Le Chéile, and this translates to the ‘Working Together Investment Scheme’. Capital funding of €31.5 million has been secured up to 2030 in the National Development Plan to support the new SÍOL programme.
The programme aims to deliver supports such as community safety projects, public realms works, projects to support health and wellbeing initiatives, and projects that support access to education and training, while targeting the supports to the urban areas with the highest concentration of disadvantage.
The new programme uses an evidence base including the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, information from the CSO report Urban and Rural Life in Ireland and research by the ESRI. In addition, the programme takes into consideration the areas in Ireland covered by the CLÁR programme to ensure geographical complementarity. Priority is given to those small areas with the highest population of extreme disadvantage, and the scheme is designed to provide similar supports to these areas that is given to rural areas through schemes such as CLÁR.
15 areas have been designated as SÍOL areas, and there will be €5 million funding available to these areas in 2026. Further information on the programme is available on my Department's website including the full list of SÍOL areas and the Electoral Divisions that comprise them.
A Call for Proposals issued to all local authorities with responsibility for SÍOL areas on 8 July 2026 and the deadline for the submission of applications for funding is 14 August 2026.
Local Authorities should develop projects in partnership with the local community. This could involve Local Authorities engaging with communities, LDCs and other Government Agencies in the relevant area to ensure that the most suitable projects are identified. Local Authorities will be required to have a named official in the Local Authority to co-ordinate and submit the applications for projects.
My Department expects to announce the successful projects in late 2026 and all projects must be completed within 18 months of approval.
961. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department will consider granting additional funding to the 484 Men’s Sheds in the coming year to support the vital work that they are doing in their communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53621/26]
View answerI recognise the important work carried out by Men’s Sheds and remain committed to supporting their valuable work in communities across the country.
My department provides funding to Men’s Sheds under various funding supports, including:
• The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP);
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028; and
• The LEADER programme.
Men’s Sheds can apply individually for all of these schemes.
In addition to these schemes, last May, I announced details of the individual Men’s Sheds who received funding from my department provided through the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA), to assist with their running costs.
Officials in my department have confirmed that they are currently reviewing a proposal received from the IMSA for further funding in 2026. It will be considered in the context of the overall resources available for Men's Sheds within my Department.
My department also provides funding directly to the IMSA under the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). The SSNO provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration of the SSNO commenced on 1 July 2026, with funding of €297,766 over the three-years and 6 month period being provided to the IMSA.
I would encourage all Men's Sheds to check my department’s website: []www.gov.ie/drcdg
and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of relevant funding opportunities as they become available.
