Community and voluntary groups across Ireland struggling with the rising energy costs are set to benefit from new government funding.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O'Brien TD launched a new €10 million Fund. The Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme will open for applications to groups on Monday 21 November.

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. It 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).

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The scheme will open for applications on Monday 21 November and close on Friday 02 December 2022. It is expected that payments under the scheme will commence before the end of this year and into early 2023.

Announcing the funding package, Minister Humphreys said: "This new scheme recognises the pressures that our community and voluntary groups are under due to rising energy costs. This is a sector that we care deeply about and are committed to support them through this difficult winter. I'd encourage all eligible groups to apply for this support with the application process opening from, November 21st."

Minister O'Brien added: "Community and Voluntary and charitable organisations help support the most disadvantaged in our society, and this package will assist them to continue their vital work. I have engaged with the C&V sector, my government colleagues and my officials on this issue over recent months to ensure we devised a scheme that would alleviate some of the additional energy costs facing organisations. I am confident the new funding package announced today will significantly assist organisations in meeting their energy costs this winter."