€225,000 for local groups to provide essential services during Covid-19 – Burke

Community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises in Westmeath are to receive €225,278 in funding to help vulnerable citizens during Covid-19.

Fine Gael Peter Burke TD said: “I’m delighted that my colleague, Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring, TD, has allocated €10.5 million under Tranche One of the Covid-19 Stability Fund to a total of 179 organisations that provide critical services to those most vulnerable in society.

“The fund is intended to be a targeted one-off cash injection for organisations and groups delivering critical services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of Covid-19.

“Community and voluntary organisations, along with charities and social enterprises have gone above and beyond in their response to the challenges presented by this pandemic and to assisting the most vulnerable.

“These organisations continued to carry out their work while restrictions stalled much activity in Westmeath and I commend and sincerely thank them for that.

“For that reason, I am delighted that seven organisations in Westmeath will receive €225,278 in funding to provide services.

“The 1428 Active Retirement Club in Mullingar will receive €14,229 in additional funds, which I know will be money well spent by Debbie and her team.

“Killucan Area Services, which provides a fantastic service for older people, has been allocated €29,250.

“Mullingar Homecare Service Limited are also a beneficiary to the tune of €11,947, which also is money well spent for Suzanne and her team operating from Bishop’s Gate Street.

“Mullingar Recycling Resource Centre, which provides social services and supports to disadvantaged individuals and communities, will receive €11,656 in funding, and Midlands Simon, who have had more calls on their services and have been extremely busy assisting those who experience temporary homelessness across the region, have been granted €126,713.

“Their work providing accommodation in a group setting has been made more difficult through Covid and more units have had to be provided so that residents could appropriately self-isolate.”

South Westmeath Employment Education and Training Services will receive €17,641 and Women’s Community Projects in Mullingar will be helped in their work by an additional €13,842.

“The government recognised that these organisations required help and additional resources to deliver these essential services and to cope with the inability to generate traded or fundraised income due to social restrictions,” said Deputy Burke.

“Following the announcement of a €40 million funding package for the sector, applications were invited for the €35 million Stability Scheme.

“The Stability Scheme, which is administered by Pobal, was open for applications from 11 to 21 May, and a total of 1,027 applications were received in that period.

“Pobal will contact successful applicants in the coming days to finalise contracts and facilities for payment of funding.”

Minister Ring said: “The sector reached out and asked for help, which is why my, and other departments, committed up to €35 million of Dormant Accounts Funding to help these organisations to keep the lights on, and keep delivering those critical services to the people that depend on them.

“I am delighted to make the first tranche of payments available today and hope to see many more funded in the coming days and weeks as my officials and Pobal complete final checks.”