Press release
Minister O’Brien announces funding of €20.8 million for the community and voluntary sector
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
- the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2022-2025 provides multi-annual core funding
- 81 national community and voluntary organisations will be funded under the Scheme
- €20.8 million will be awarded over the 3-year period
Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, today announced funding of €20.8 million over the coming 3 years to 81 national community and voluntary organisations.
The funding is under a new round of the Scheme to Support National Organisations and will run for a period of 3 years, until mid-2025.
At €20.8 million over the lifetime of the scheme, the funding is in excess of €2 million of the €18.8 million awarded under the 2019-2022 Scheme.
This new round also sees an increase in organisations funded with 81 organisations announced today, in comparison to 74 organisations awarded under the 2019-2022 Scheme.
The Minister was impressed by the high quality applications that were received for funding under the Scheme and was keen to make funding available to as many organisations, across as many categories, as possible.
Announcing the funding, Minister O’Brien said:
“I am glad to announce the successful 81 national Community and Voluntary organisations who will be receiving nearly €21 million in funding over the next 3 years. Critically, this multi annual funding is over a 3-year period to allow organisations to plan for a more sustainable timeframe."
Applications were invited from community and voluntary organisations that operate at a national level with evidence of a nationwide membership.
The allocation of funding was largely based on evidence of need and value for money. This was to ensure that the funds were allocated to the organisations where they are most needed and to make the maximum contribution to the community and voluntary sector.
The SSNO provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations in the community and voluntary sector, to assist them to operate and fund core staff positions, administration and ongoing running expenses.
The Minister added:
“This was a highly competitive process with over 230 applications received from organisations who provide vital services nationally. This essential government investment will benefit organisations who operate in the health, disability, homelessness, children and young persons, older persons, equality and social inclusion sectors, amongst others. I am confident that the many people who benefit from the support and services delivered by these groups will see the value of this investment.”
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) is administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The overall aim of the SSNO in the Community and Voluntary Sector 2022-2025 is to provide multi-annual funding towards the core costs of national organisations to assist them to operate and fund core staff positions. The primary focus is to provide core funding to national organisations who provide services and supports focusing on social exclusion, addressing poverty or promoting equality.
The application process for the new round of funding generated significant interest with 231 applications received by the closing date with a total ask of €46.5 million.
Applications are independently appraised by Pobal to ensure transparency, fairness and due process. The criteria for appraisal, as outlined in the application process, is across the following 5 areas:
- national remit
- governance
- value for money
- need
- meeting the programme requirements
The National Organisations allocated funding under the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2022-2025 are as follows:
| Organisation | Amount awarded |
| Active Retirement Network Ireland | €272,130 |
| Age Action Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €268,874 |
| Aiseiri Cahir Designated Activity Company | €273,000 |
| Akina Dada Wa Africa Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Anam Cara Parental And Sibling Bereavement Support Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Arthritis Ireland | €272,886 |
| Asthma Society of Ireland | €273,000 |
| Autism Spectrum Information Advice & Meeting Point Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Barnardos - Republic of Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Belong to Youth Services | €272,474 |
| Boardmatch Ireland | €191,555 |
| Brainwave – The Irish Epilepsy Association | €254,428 |
| Breaking Through Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,979 |
| Care Alliance Ireland | €273,000 |
| Carmichael Centre For Voluntary Groups | €273,000 |
| Center For Independent Living Company Limited By Guarantee | €222,440 |
| Cherish Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Children's Rights Alliance - Republic of Ireland | €272,770 |
| Chronic Pain Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €131,567 |
| Community Creations Company Limited By Guarantee | €260,653 |
| Community Workers Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency Company Limited By Guarantee | €245,700 |
| Disability Federation of Ireland | €216,554 |
| Down Syndrome Ireland | €273,000 |
| Dyslexia Association of Ireland | €266,638 |
| European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,999 |
| European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Family Carers Ireland | €232,960 |
| Focus Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €256,812 |
| FOODCLOUD | €273,000 |
| Foróige The National Youth Development Organisation | €240,055 |
| Free Legal Advice Centres | €273,000 |
| Grow in Ireland | €273,000 |
| Health Research Charities Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €271,914 |
| Immigrant Council of Ireland | €272,999 |
| I.N.O.U. Company Limited by Guarantee | €273,000 |
| I.W.A. Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,604 |
| Inclusion Ireland - National Association For People With An Intellectual Disability | €269,158 |
| Irish Association for Palliative Care | €260,918 |
| Irish Council for Social Housing | €138,908 |
| Irish Deaf Society The National Association of the Deaf Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Irish Foster Care Association | €272,873 |
| Irish Men's Sheds Association Company Limited By Guarantee | €243,158 |
| Irish Penal Reform Trust | €264,119 |
| Irish Red Cross Society | €237,510 |
| Irish Refugee Council Company Limited By Guarantee | €268,298 |
| Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited | €272,345 |
| Irish Senior Citizens National Parliament Company Limited By Guarantee | €271,657 |
| Irish Stammering Association | €271,375 |
| Irish Sudden Infant Death Association | €273,000 |
| LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €269,287 |
| M.O.V.E. Ireland | €272,913 |
| Mental Health Reform | €272,828 |
| Mercy Law Resource Centre Company Limited By Guarantee | €176,085 |
| Migrant Information Centre Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre | €243,985 |
| National Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €189,698 |
| National Women's Council of Ireland | €272,995 |
| National Youth Council of Ireland | €246,339 |
| Neurological Alliance of Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,978 |
| New Communities Partnership (NCP) Company Limited By Guarantee | €270,066 |
| Parents Plus Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,833 |
| Rape Crisis Network Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,910 |
| ROTHA | €272,303 |
| SAFE Ireland National Social Change Agency Company Limited by Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Sensational Kids Company Limited By Guarantee | €236,720 |
| Simon Communities of Ireland | €227,375 |
| Social Analysis And Action For Justice Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Special Olympics Ireland | €273,000 |
| Specialisterne Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative Company Limited By Guarantee | €267,005 |
| TASC Europe Studies Company Limited by Guarantee | €256,526 |
| The Irish Environmental Conservation Organisation For Youth -UNESCO Clubs - Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| The Irish Hospice Foundation | €240,177 |
| The Irish Local Development Network Company Limited By Guarantee | €272,275 |
| The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland | €273,000 |
| Threshold | €273,000 |
| Treoir The National Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents and Their Children | €134,033 |
| Volunteering Ireland | €211,358 |
| Women’s Aid Company Limited By Guarantee | €273,000 |
| Young Social Innovators | €272,268 |