4176. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total funding provided to women’s groups, clubs, networks and women’s sheds through schemes administered by his Department in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 202, by funding programme and county. [64097/26]

4177. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount of funding provided specifically to Women’s Sheds in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026. [64096/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4176 and 4177 together.

I recognise the important work carried out by Women's Groups, Women's Clubs, Women's Networks, the Irish Country Women's Association (ICA) and Women's Sheds in supporting community development, social inclusion and participation across the country.

My Department provides a number of supports which can be accessed by such groups.

These supports include -

• The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP);

• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028; and

• The LEADER programme.

These groups can apply individually for all of these schemes.

A number of other funds administered by my Department including CLÁR, the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF) and the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) provide funding to all Community and Voluntary groups including Women's Groups, Women's Clubs, Women's Networks, ICA and Women's Sheds. Details of all projects funded though my Department can be located on my Department’s website, www.gov.ie/drcdg.

As applicants are not generally categorised by organisation type across all Departmental programmes, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive breakdown of funding provided to Women's Groups, Clubs and Networks for the period requested. However, funding provided specifically to Women's Sheds under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) and SICAP is available and is set out in the table below.

Separately, the Department of Health secured funding of €150,000 in Budget 2026 to support Women's Sheds.

My Department remains committed to supporting community organisations and ensuring that Women's Groups, Women's Clubs, Women's Networks and Women's Sheds have access to a broad range of funding opportunities to support their valuable work in communities nationwide.

I would encourage all these groups 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.