Ministers Humphreys and O’Brien launch €10 million Fund to support community and voluntary groups with energy costs

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien TD, have today launched a new €10 million Fund to support community and voluntary groups with the increased energy costs.

The Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme will open for applications to groups on Monday, November 21st.

The scheme is designed to help the sector with their increased bills, which is having an impact on the operations of many community and voluntary groups.

The scheme will provide once-off support to organisations within the Community and Voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government such as the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS).

The scheme will open for applications on Monday 21st November and close on Friday 2nd December 2022. It is expected that payments under the scheme will commence before the end of this year and into early 2023.

Announcing the funding package, Minister Humphreys said: "This new scheme recognises the pressures that our community and voluntary groups are under due to rising energy costs. This is a sector that we care deeply about and are committed to support them through this difficult winter. I’d encourage all eligible groups to apply for this support with the application process opening from, November 21st."

On foot of the unveiling of the funding package, Minister O'Brien stated "Community and Voluntary and charitable organisations help support the most disadvantaged in our society, and this package will assist them to continue their vital work. I have engaged with the C&V sector, my government colleagues and my officials on this issue over recent months to ensure we devised a scheme that would alleviate some of the additional energy costs facing organisations. I am confident the new funding package announced today will significantly assist organisations in meeting their energy costs this winter."

Full scheme details are now available on pobal.ie