Incorporated Community Groups and Charities Urged to Apply to Pobal for Energy Costs Relief Before December 2nd Deadline

Posted on By niamhmurray

PRESS RELEASE – 23/11/2022
A Second Funding Scheme, To Be Launched Shortly By LCDC, Will Be Able To Support Other Types Of Community Organisations With Their Running Costs.
Chairman of Monaghan Local Economic & Community Development Committee, Alan Johnston, today moved to encourage local community groups to avail of one of the two
funding packages put in place by Minister Heather Humphreys’ Department of Rural & Community Affairs to help the community and sector cope with the rising cost of energy this winter.

He was speaking to welcome the announcement by Minister Humphreys last week of an allocation of €277,255 to Co. Monaghan under a new Community Support Scheme, which will provide small grants to a wide and diverse range of local community groups to carry
out small upgrade works, purchase equipment to support their activities and assist with their running costs, which can include energy costs. The Community Support Scheme will be rolled out through the LCDC, which is currently preparing the application form and guidelines, and expects to open the scheme to applications within the next fortnight.

In the meantime, Mr Johnston is anxious to point out that a separate scheme has been put in place by the Department to assist larger community groups with their energy costs, and that due to this, these groups will not be able to seek help with energy costs from the
LCDC-run scheme.

It is therefore vital, says Mr Johnston, for all incorporated community groups (eg CLG’s and co-operatives) and registered charities to visit the Pobal website and apply for their energy
costs through the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS). This scheme is now open, and will close on the 2nd of December. These larger groups will still be welcome to apply to the LCDC’s Community Support
Scheme for other costs, upgrade works etc, but will not be able to claim energy costs through this Scheme.

While the LCDC is still awaiting guidance from the Dept of Rural & Community Development on eligibility criteria for projects under the new Community Support Scheme, it is known that the Scheme is specifically designed by the Department to support a wider
range of groups than any previous scheme. Funding will be available to support Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, ICA Groups, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and much more.

The new scheme has been devised to support groups with their energy costs who may not have been deemed eligible under previous Government schemes.

These include groups that operate from parish halls and who need support with running costs such as energy or insurance bills.
Groups can also use the funding to carry out small upgrade works on buildings, and to purchase equipment such as laptops and printers, lawnmowers, training equipment, etc.

When available, full Guidelines and application forms will be posted to the Community Grants section of Monaghan County Council’s website, www.monaghan.ie. Monaghan Public Participation Network will circulate a notice to all their member groups as soon as the details of the Scheme are announced. If you are not already a member of the PPN, you can sign up to receive updates from them on their website www.ppnmonaghan.ie or by liking their Facebook page.