Galway East TD and Minister for Rural Affairs Seán Canney has announced that Men’s Sheds will be receiving €500,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund run by his Department.
Minister Canney said: “We have 400 Men’s Sheds around the country and I’m delighted to announce this funding today.
“Men’s Sheds were set up to tackle rural isolation among our older men. They have really taken off and they perform a very valuable service.
“Not only are they a focus for the social lives of older men but they make a great contribution to the community in general.
“In Galway East, we have Men’s Sheds in Athenry, Tuam, Carrabane/Loughrea, Dunmore, Gort, Headford, Kinvara, Lackagh, Portumna, Ballygar, Oranmore and Ballinasloe.
“They will all be able to apply to Galway County Council for funding via the Local Community Development Committee and I would encourage them to do so.”
A Men’s Shed is any community-based non-commercial organisation, which is open to all men, where the main activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment, where men are able to gather or work on meaningful projects at their own pace and in their own time.
The primary objective of Men’s Sheds is to support the health and well-being of men.
The Dormant Accounts Fund for Men’s Sheds is targeted at purchasing equipment or funding minor improvements to facilities.

EDITORS NOTE
Each year the Dormant Accounts Fund receives funds from credit institutions for inactive accounts and policies that have not been reclaimed despite the best efforts of the institution to trace the account or policy hold.
The total amount of funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund allocated to all Government Departments will be more than €30 million this year.

For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
May 31 2019