Departmental Funding
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-17
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Gareth Scahill (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I know this is not her brief, but I thank her for attending.
I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue. I call on the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to make a statement on the community support fund and similar issues. My message today is very simple. While capital funding for community projects is welcome and important, many community groups are struggling most with their day-to-day running costs, and they need support now more than ever. As someone who has been involved with numerous groups and is regularly engaging with community groups, committees and volunteers across towns, villages and parishes, I see first-hand the pressures they are facing.
These volunteers are not involved because they are looking for recognition or reward. They do what they do because they believe in their communities. They believe in supporting their neighbours, tackling isolation, creating opportunities for young people and keeping local organisations alive. However, the reality is that volunteer numbers are falling, the demands on community groups are increasing and the costs of operating are continuing to rise.
We have seen the positive impact that schemes such as the community activities fund and the community support fund have had in recent years. Those programmes recognise something very important: community organisations cannot continue to serve their communities if they cannot afford their insurance, electricity, heating and other essential costs. These schemes provide practical supports that help to keep groups with their doors open and continuing to provide valuable services. They show an understanding that operating costs are just as important as capital investment.
While recent funding programmes, including the local enhancement programme, are very welcome, the vast majority of funding available today is focused on capital projects, equipment and facility improvement. Of course, communities welcome these investments, but many groups tell me that accessing capital funding often brings additional challenges. Matched funding requirements can be difficult to achieve, applications can be complex, and projects require a significant voluntary commitment. There was a time when voluntary hours and community effort were recognised as an element of the matched funding contribution. Today, many groups are expected to raise substantial cash contributions or arrange loans while still providing hundreds of hours of unpaid work to deliver projects.
The groups that I meet tell me they need support to pay the bills that arrive every month. Groups such as the ICA guilds, LCDCs, town teams, active retirement associations, community centres, cultural groups and many other local community organisations continue to do outstanding work. They are supporting their members and strengthening community life. Yet every year, they face increased insurance premiums, rising utility costs and growing financial pressures. We cannot take these groups for granted any longer. Every community organisation that disappears takes with it experience, volunteer capacity and a valuable social outlet that is often impossible to replace.
That is why I am calling on the Minister to consider reintroducing a dedicated operational support fund similar to the community support fund.
It would be a fund specifically designed to assist with insurance costs, utility bills and other day-to-day expenses. It would provide immediate meaningful support to the organisations that form the backbone of community life. If we are serious about supporting volunteers, strengthening communities and promoting rural and social development then we must ensure these groups have the resources they need to grow and survive. Could the Minister of State outline whether consideration has been given to the reintroduction of such a scheme and what measures can be taken to ensure that grassroots community organisations receive the practical support they need to continue serving their communities? The reality is simple: these volunteers have kept the flag flying in our communities for years and now it is our turn to do our part.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-17