Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister Joe O’Brien Launches €10 million Fund to Support Community and Voluntary Groups with Energy Costs

14th November, 2022

  • Financial supports to be paid out to groups as early as end of 2022
  • New scheme designed to support sector with increased energy bills
  • Application process to open on Monday November 21st

Minister Joe O’Brien has 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.  It is expected that payments under the scheme will commence before the end of this year and into early 2023.

On foot of the unveiling of the funding package, Minister O’Brien stated:

“I hope that this new fund will be of major help to community groups in Fingal, who I know have been hard pressed by increased running costs.

“Our Community and Voluntary and charitable organisations support the most disadvantaged in our society, and this package will help them to continue to do so. It will ensure that organisations assisting our most vulnerable groups can continue this important work so that people can get the help and support that they need.”

“We’ve worked to make sure the application and payment process are straightforward, but I really encourage intending applicants to check the scheme details on Pobal’s website over the coming days and familiarise themselves with the application process and documentation required, so that they are ready to apply when the application window opens.”

Full scheme details are now available on: www.Pobal.ie.

This initiative forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.

ENDS

Notes :

 

Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS)

The Government of Ireland have made an allocation of up to €10m 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).

Pobal

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.