Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
369. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent by his Department on funding NGOs, by organisation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent on funding NGOs by his Department, in each of the years since 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11825/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the assessments that are carried out to determine the level of Exchequer funding that any NGO receives from his Department on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11843/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra372. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any direct lobbying he has received from any NGO in relation to his annual funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 370, 371 and 372 together.
Deputy,
Details of NGOs funded by The Department of Transport and the amounts provided since 2022 are presented in the table below:
|
Non-Governmental Organisations |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Variety Ireland – relates to their Recycle Mobility Programme |
|
|
150,000 |
150,000 |
|
Variety Ireland – installation of a disability child cycling hub on the Great Western Greenway. |
|
|
41,549 |
|
|
An Taisce (funded through NTA) - relates to Green Schools Travel and Safe Routes to School Programme |
2,081,374 |
2,061,898 |
2,536,224 |
2,367,970 |
|
CEGD funded An Taisce, through the NTA, for the delivery of a Bus in the City, a Public Engagement Pilot Initiative |
|
|
36,873 |
|
|
Mountain Rescue/Community Rescue Boats Maintenance Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
Donegal Mountain Rescue |
22,210 |
22,210 |
22,210 |
22,210 |
|
Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue |
32,155 |
32,155 |
32,155 |
32,155 |
|
Galway Mountain Rescue |
18,130 |
18,130 |
18,130 |
18,130 |
|
Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue |
32,410 |
32,410 |
32,410 |
32,410 |
|
Irish Cave Rescue Organisation |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Kerry Mountain Rescue |
21,700 |
21,700 |
21,700 |
21,700 |
|
Mayo Mountain Rescue |
25,525 |
25,525 |
25,015 |
25,525 |
|
Search and Rescue Dog Association |
19,405 |
19,405 |
19,405 |
19,405 |
|
Sligo & Leitrim Mountain Rescue |
17,620 |
17,620 |
17,620 |
17,620 |
|
South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association |
20,935 |
20,935 |
20,935 |
20,935 |
|
Mountain Rescue Ireland |
20,000 |
20,000 |
90,000 |
127,426 |
|
Mountain Rescue Ireland (Development grant) |
60,000 |
60,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Ballybunion Sea Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Banna Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Bantry Inshore Search and Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Bonmahon Community Rescue Boats |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Cahore Inshore Search and Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
|
Corrib Mask Search and Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Derrynane Inshore Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Tramore Sea Rescue Association |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Waterford City River Rescue |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
5,075 |
|
Community Rescue Boats Bantry One Off |
|
|
3,965 |
|
|
Community Rescue Boats Ballinskelligs One Off |
|
|
|
3,965 |
|
Community Rescue Boats Corrib Mask One Off |
|
|
|
3,965 |
|
Community Rescue Boats Waterford One Off |
|
|
|
3,965 |
|
CALSTART inc - Contribution to Support Global MOU on ZE-MHDVs |
|
|
|
44,780 |
|
Total |
2,447,289 |
2,427,813 |
3,164,016 |
3,002,911 |
With regards the Deputy's question concerning assessments that are carried out to determine the level of Exchequer funding that any NGO receives from my Departmen,t An Taisce funding consists of an annual grant of €1.65m for the administration of the Green Schools Travel Programme, and additional funding for the staff costs of the Safe Routes to School team in An Taisce. Funding submissions are received from Variety Ireland on an annual basis along with a report outlining the output of the previous year’s investment. Decisions on funding levels are made in the context of the overall active travel annual budget.
My Department, through the Irish Coast Guard, provides an annual grant payment to assist with current expenditure for Mountain Rescue Ireland, mountain rescue teams and the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation. The grant also provides funding to those members of Community Rescue Boats Ireland who are declared assets to the Irish Coast Guard and may be tasked by the Coast Guard to assist in the event of an emergency response. A review of the grant payable to Mountain Rescue Ireland and Mountain Rescue Units was carried out in 2018 and provided an uplift with effect from 2019. Mountain rescue teams are tasked by An Garda Síochána and frequently work alongside other Search and Rescue organisations in the course of training and response to emergencies.
On the matter of Lobbying the Irish Coast Guard regularly receives representation through various channels to provide additional funding to individual units. Funding is provided solely to assist with current expenditure and may be reviewed where supporting evidence provided and meets relevant criteria. Mountain rescue teams are tasked by An Garda Síochána and do not functionally operate under the Department of Transport. Water Safety Ireland, the body responsible for governance oversight of units operating as part of Community Rescue Boats Ireland, are currently undertaking an independent review that will include funding, training and regulatory alignment.
