Mattie McGrath raises concern over Men's Sheds funding shortfall

the Minister of Community and Rural Development to address the funding chartfall for Irish Men's Sheds, specifically following the loss of the IEMSA's Sustainability Grant, and if you will make a statement on the matter as a whole. Thank you for your question in relation to Men's Sheds. I absolutely agree that Men's Sheds are a very positive development for communities across Ireland, which provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people can share skills, work on meaningful projects for communities and connect with their communities. I absolutely commit to the work of Men's Sheds. The programme for Government includes a commitment to continue to fund Men's Sheds. My Department currently provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, including the €7 million Local Enhancement Programme 2025, which has allowed Men's Sheds to apply for running costs, as well as small capital works for their facilities, the PSICAP Activation Programme, the Leader Programme, where funding is not targeted at any particular group, but focused on a thematic approach. My Department also provides funding directly to the Irish Men's Sheds Association under the scheme to support national organisations to support administrative costs. In previous years, RingFans funding was provided to the Irish Men's Sheds Association for distribution to its members. This funding followed on from proposals submitted by the IMSA. In 2018, in 2024, my officials reached out to the Irish Men's Sheds Association regarding their funding requirements. They were advised that the IMSA was not in a position to submit a proposal for funding at that time, but indicated that they would be in contact with my Department in 2025. I will be meeting the Men's Sheds and the Irish Men's Sheds Association in the coming weeks to discuss their proposals, and I will update the Deputy afterwards. Thank you. I am glad you are going to meet with the IMSA, the Irish Men's Sheds Association, because it is a pity that when you reached out to me last year they were unable, but hopefully it will be sorted out and we will get a proper, meaningful support for the many, many interests throughout the country, especially in Tipperary. It is a tremendous organisation. We cannot forget the Menanah Inn, with the Women's Shed, who is one of the care at the moment, the care town. It is very important that the voluntary efforts will be supported by the Government. by the Government. They are not looking for massive amounts of money, but enough to keep them going without enormous fundraising and stress of that. I look forward to your meeting with the National Group, and hopefully this matter can be resolved. In fairness to the previous minister, she was generous to the Vincenzo, and it's a pity that it went off the track. Hopefully we will get her back on the line again. Deputy Deputy, I raised the issue with me also last week. There's not an issue. We have provided funding over recent years. We wanted to provide funding last year. We weren't able to find a mechanism to do that, but we will have a meeting with the Irish Men's Sheds Association. Also in the meantime, Deputy, I would refer you to the Local Enhancement Programme, that we had money in that for Men's Sheds locally, and that will be decided on in the coming weeks.