Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane has written to both the Minister for Rural Development and the Minister for Mental Health seeking the inclusion of a joint funding stream for Men’s Sheds in the upcoming Budget.
Deputy Kerrane said: “Previously, a specific stream of funding for Men’s Sheds was available under the Department of Rural and Community Development. This meant that Men’s Sheds had a guaranteed funding stream. However, this has since ended.
“We now have a situation where Men’s Sheds have to find alternative funding streams, apply (and some applications can be extremely time-consuming), and then hope for the best, with no guarantee of being awarded such grants – and all the time having to pay for the running costs of their Shed, including what can often be high insurance costs.
“Men’s Sheds provide a space for men, some who may be retired or living alone, including in isolated rural communities. We are also seeing a number of Women’s Sheds now being established.
“There is a really important health, well-being and mental health benefit to these Sheds and this should be acknowledged.
“Such funding would support over 450 Sheds across our communities. I hope that this will be supported and introduced as part of the upcoming Budget”, concluded Deputy Kerrane.
