876. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health to provide details of all grant schemes currently available through her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [53419/26]

Dear Deputy, outlined below are details related the grant schemes which are operated by my Department.

Period Dignity Scheme

Purpose of the Scheme

The Period Dignity Scheme supports the provision of free, safe and suitable period products, with a particular focus on women and young girls who may experience difficulty in affording or accessing such products, including those affected by poverty, homelessness, addiction, social exclusion or other forms of disadvantage. The scheme forms part of the Department’s broader work to address period poverty by improving access to products in public buildings and publicly funded services, supporting community-based distribution, and contributing to the reduction of stigma and barriers to participation in education, employment, sport and other activities of daily life.

Eligibility Criteria

Funding is provided to Local Authorities and non-governmental organisations that are positioned to deliver period dignity supports within communities.

Application Process

The Department invites Expressions of Interest and engages directly with eligible organisations and public bodies, including Local Authorities, Family Resource Centres and non-governmental organisations. Eligible bodies are required to submit the Department’s Expression of Interest template by the specified deadline:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest using the Department’s template by the specified deadline.

2. Complete any outstanding reporting requirements from the previous funding year, where applicable.

3. The Department reviews the application and determines whether the proposal may be supported within the available funding parameters.

4. Successful applicants are issued with a draft Service Level Agreement for review, signature and return.

5. The Department countersigns the Service Level Agreement and returns the finalised version.

6. The applicant submits an invoice to enable payment of the approved funding.

7. Additional or second-round funding may be offered later in the year, subject to available budget and prevailing priorities, where appropriate.

Applications are generally assessed having regard to the following considerations:

• the intended target population and the level of identified need;

• the proposed approach to ensuring that period products are available and accessible;

• the strength of partnerships with local community organisations and services;

• the extent to which the proposal will support period dignity and awareness; and

• the applicant’s capacity to deliver the initiative and meet appropriate reporting requirements.

The scheme is not available to individual applicants.

Opening and closing dates

Applications opened on 22 January 2026 and closed on 6 March 2026. Subject to the availability of unallocated funding, a further call may issue later in the year.

Other Healthy Ireland initiatives

Healthy Ireland also supports the Walking Tracks initiative and the Outdoor Swimming Initiative, both of which are aimed at promoting increased participation in physical activity through improved community and public infrastructure. Funding is allocated through national sporting bodies and onward to clubs, rather than directly to individuals, and current funding allocations under these initiatives have been made.

The Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (REE) Scheme

• The €10m Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (REE) Scheme opened for applications on 16 April 2026 and will close on 20 November 2026.

• The REE Scheme provides targeted funding for structural/other works carried out to specifically enhance the resident environment, safety and facilities in nursing homes in compliance with Regulation 17 (Premises) as it applies to internal and external communal spaces for residents, their bedrooms/bathrooms, and equipment, furniture and furnishings for use by residents.

• The REE Scheme is open to all operational voluntary and private nursing homes registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) as of 1 January 2026, and in receipt of payment under the National Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) for the provision of long-term residential care services.

• Up to €25,000 is available to each qualifying nursing home.

• Eligible nursing homes may claim for works carried out between 1 January 2025 and 20 November 2026 that meet the scheme criteria.

• The Department of Health are responsible for all policy matters in relation to the scheme and will provide oversight of the scheme. The Department of Health report to the Minister of State with special responsibility for Older People and Housing on the operation and progress of the scheme.

• The Health Service Executive (HSE) administer the scheme, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF)  administer the application process and provide support and advice to the HSE, and the HSE make payments where appropriate under this scheme.