Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
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Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys and Minister of State Joe O’Brien have today (Friday, 25 May 2023) announced the latest tranche of funding under the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS).
Under this latest tranche worth €438,622, an additional 166 organisations from across the community and voluntary sector will receive a one-off contribution towards their increased energy bills for 2022. Payments will issue to the organisations immediately.
The funding announced today brings the total number of organisations supported under the initiative to 846, with over €1.35 million now disbursed.
Among the successful applicants include:
The Ministers confirmed that recipients include organisations who have benefitted from the scheme’s expansion to organisations that were deemed ineligible for support under the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), on the grounds that they are engaged in passive trade, and to organisations who receive smaller levels of Section 39 funding.
Speaking as she made the announcement today, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am delighted today to announce the fifth tranche of successful applicants under the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme, awarding supports to organisations all over the country. This tranche includes funding to a large number of local community parish halls, as well as other multi-site beneficiaries so it will make a difference in communities all over the country.”
Minister Humphreys explained the importance of the scheme in ensuring that community and voluntary organisations and charities have been supported to meet the unprecedented energy costs they faced:
“Community and voluntary organisations deliver vital services in our communities. Targeted supports such as the CVESS mean they can get on with the important work they do, this kind of funding gives them space to concentrate on what people really need from them.”
Minister O Brien added:
“Minister Humphreys and I regularly visit community and voluntary organisations all over the country, and we get the opportunity to see the difference tangible funding supports such as the CVESS makes. We are committed to continuing to support the sector, listening to their needs and addressing challenges together.
“There are so many deserving organisations in today’s list, I hope this funding goes some way towards helping them to achieve their missions.”
Concluding, Minister Humphreys advised further tranches will follow:
“Pobal continues to assess applications in batches as we engage with organisations to seek clarifications as needed and to give every organisation the best opportunity to be successful in their application.”
This initiative forms part of a range of measures introduced in Budget 2023 to meet higher energy costs for households, businesses and community organisations and it complements the department’s supports to the community and voluntary sector, promoting sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities across Ireland.
Also the government is urging householders and businesses to ensure that they are availing of the supports that are in place. For more information visit www.gov.ie/reduceyouruse.
The Government of Ireland have made an allocation of up to €10 million available to support organisations within the Community and Voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other schemes such as, the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners and sectoral schemes for arts, culture, sports, health and Gaeltacht organisations.
Pobal have been engaged to administer this scheme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
This Fund is intended to provide once-off financial support towards the increase in energy costs in 2022 for organisations within the community and voluntary sector (as defined under eligible organisations).
The scheme closed to applications on 24 February 2023. The remaining applications continue to be assessed in tranches with further announcements expected shortly.
Pobal is an organisation that works on behalf of the Government of Ireland and in collaboration with international partners, to support communities and local agencies towards achieving social inclusion and development.
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 programmes on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), 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, youth services and education and training.