From Department of Rural and Community Development
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Over €2 million in funding is to be provided to 65 community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, which have seen their incomes suffer as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The COVID Stability Funding was jointly announced today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Charities and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD.
The €2 million investment means that a total of €48.5 million has now been provided in COVID-19 Stability Funding to hundreds of organisations since the onset of the pandemic.
The funding is being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered through Pobal.
Under this tranche of funding, cash injections of between €2,000 and €200,000 are being awarded to qualifying organisations that provide critical services to those most vulnerable in society.
These organisations – which span across a range of sectors – have been hit with short term cash flow issues as a result of the Pandemic.
Among the groups approved for funding are:
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Over a year and a half since the start of the Pandemic, community groups and charities across the State have worked harder than ever to continue providing critical services to vulnerable people and communities.
“Many of these organisations experienced a fall in their incomes due to the impact of COVID and are struggling. This funding that my colleagues and I are announcing today will assist these organisations to continue to operate.
“The funding represents an important lifeline for many organisations that continue to play a critical role, supporting and assisting tens of thousands of our citizens.
“It also underpins commitments in the Government’s rural development strategy, ‘Our Rural Future’, to support our communities as we rebuild post COVID-19.”
Minister McGrath continued:
“The Government recognises the enormous contribution made by community and voluntary groups in delivering vital services, particularly during very difficult times.
“COVID-19 has brought challenges not just to communities, but to organisations that serve them and this funding is vital in order to stabilise the financial position of many of these groups.
“I welcome the allocation of much needed resources today, knowing the positive impact it will have.”
Minister O Brien added:
“Community and Voluntary projects have been a crucial element of Ireland’s emergency response to the pandemic. In the cities, towns and villages around Ireland, these groups have been working behind the scenes to ensure that people can get the help and support that they need.
“I know this funding will provide the space needed by these organisations to continue focusing on the people that depend on them.
“As the country moves to a new phase of living with COVID-19 and restrictions are eased, my Department will continue to work with community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, building on our mission to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.”
A full list of successful Stability Fund applicants can be found: here.
COVID-19 Stability Fund
The COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises was developed to provide support to qualifying organisations who find themselves in particular difficulty and have seen their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly during the crisis.
The 2021 iteration of the Stability Fund builds on the 2020 scheme, which saw €42m of Dormant Accounts Funding provided to qualifying organisations to support them in dealing with the challenges in income generation brought about by social restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
Organisations were required to demonstrate the impact that the crisis has had on their services, significant financial losses and delivery of vital supports to vulnerable communities. Applications were assessed and announced in tranches to facilitate timely drawdowns by successful groups and to allow for engagement with any organisations where further information may have been required.
Pobal , which works on behalf of Government to support communities and local agencies toward achieving social inclusion and development, administer the Stability Fund on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development. This funding is being provided through €10m in Exchequer funding, and €3m Dormant Accounts Funding from a small underspend of the €45m available under the 2020 scheme.
Pobal operates under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Pobal is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Members of the Board are appointed by Government, on the nomination of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, in line with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. The company operates on the basis of a framework agreement with the Department of Rural and Community Development and programme-specific service level agreements with individual Departments.
Pobal administers related programmes on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection (DSP), as well as the Department of Health (DoH) /HSE and a number of EU bodies.
Pobal works in the areas of social inclusion, early childhood care and education, local and community development, peace and reconciliation, equality, labour market supports, and education and training.