Community groups struggling to survive without support from Government – Scahill

Community groups are struggling most with day-to-day running costs, including insurance premiums, electricity bills and heating, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Gareth Scahill said the Government should reintroduce a dedicated support fund for community and voluntary groups, as rising costs are pushing many organisations to breaking point.

Senator Scahill said: “Capital funding for community projects is always welcome, but volunteer numbers are falling and the demands on community groups are increasing. We cannot take these groups for granted any longer.

Every community organisation that disappears takes with it experience, volunteer capacity and a valuable social outlet which is often impossible to replace.

“Active retirement associations, community centres, town teams and countless other local organisations continue to do outstanding work. Yet every year they face increased insurance premiums, rising utility costs and growing financial pressures.”

Senator Scahill pointed to the success of previous operational funding schemes, including the Community Support Fund which gave €10m to help groups with running costs and called for a similar initiative to be reintroduced.

He also highlighted the additional burden placed on community groups by capital funding models, noting the matched funding requirements and complex applications place a big strain on volunteers already giving hundreds of hours of unpaid work.

Senator Scahill concluded by saying he would push for concrete commitments for these groups ahead of Budget 2027.

“We are in danger of losing these volunteer organisations if we can’t support them. Reinstating the €10m fund would go a long way.”