Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
139. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing multi-annual funding for men’s and women’s sheds to allow them to plan longer-term projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37225/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe that the emergence of Men’s Sheds and Women's Sheds has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland and I am fully committed to supporting Men's Sheds and Women's Sheds in the valuable work they do.
While I understand the desire for multi-annual funding, it would not be possible for my Department to provide multi-annual funding to individual Men's Sheds and Women's Sheds on an ongoing basis for a variety of reasons, including budgetary rules and accountability requirements. My Department is working within the resources it has to provide the best supports possible at this time.
My Department provides funding to Men's Sheds and Women’s Sheds under various funding supports, including:
• The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026, the results of which I will be announcing in the coming weeks;
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028; and
• The LEADER programme.
Men’s Sheds and Women's Sheds can apply individually for all of these schemes.
In addition to these schemes, earlier this month, I announced details of the Men’s Sheds who have benefitted from funding my Department provided directly to the Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA).
Both my Department and the Department of Health jointly funded the provision of a facilitator to assist representatives of Women’s Sheds form a national body (Women’s Sheds of Ireland – WSOI). This work was completed recently.
My colleague Minister Murnane O Connor secured €150,000 for women's sheds in her departments Health and Wellbeing Budget 2026. The funding was assigned to the HSE and recently officials from my Department and the Department of Health facilitated an introduction of the WSOI to officials in the HSE regarding the utilisation of this funding. My Department will continue to offer any support it can while this process continues.
I would encourage all Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds to check my Department’s website, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
