Mattie McGrath: Standalone Mint Sheds denied 2,000 from 2 million fund
Deputy Mattie McGrath raised concerns about the distribution of a 2 million fund for Mint Sheds and Women's Sheds, saying standalone sheds are being excluded from a 2,000 payment each. He urged Mr. Horneford's department to adjust the scheme so the groups on the ground receive the funding.
Funding allocation issue
McGrath said the announced 2 million fund would award 2,000 to each shed, but standalone Mint Sheds that are not associated with family resource centres cannot claim the payment. He criticised the routing of money to the Mint Sheds Association rather than directly to local shed groups.
Impact on community wellbeing
He emphasised that Mint Sheds and Women's Sheds do much for mental health, physical health and community well-being and warned that the current arrangements harm those outcomes. He also cited rising ESB costs and other inner costs as reasons the groups urgently need the payments.
Call for departmental action
McGrath called on Mr. Horneford's department to 'tweak this' to ensure Mint Sheds that need the money get it, arguing the funds are meant for groups on the ground. He also noted an apparent disparity for sheds not associated with the Irish Mint Sheds Association.
Follow-up from the chamber
A colleague responded that they were not previously aware of the issue and said they would contact Minister Humphries to see what could be done, signaling a potential follow-up from the department.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
The Mint Sheds in Ireland, and indeed the Women's Sheds, are wonderful groups of people. They do so much for people's mental health, physical health, well-being and everything else. They were delighted in November, while they didn't give much time to apply, when there was an announcement of 2 million in the fund, that each shed would get 2,000. Some of your colleagues relate that all over social media. But now we have a problem. Many of them are associated with family resource centres. OK, they can claim the money. But the standalone sheds cannot claim this money. And the money is actually going to the Mint Sheds Association. Which is no good to the people on the ground, their mental health, their physical health, and what they do, and the help they give the communities as well. So, something needs to be done here. Mr. Horneford's department needs to tweak this, to ensure that the Mint Sheds, who need the money, get it. If they're not associated with this Irish Mint Sheds Association, they shouldn't get their money. So it's meant for the groups on the ground, they have to get this money, they badly need it. And in many, many ways it's been it, because with ESB costs, and inner costs, they need it badly. Thanks, Deputy. I actually wasn't aware that that was an issue. So I'll contact Minister Humphries about it, and we'll see what we can do. I really hope that that helped us out. Even if you look at the ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
