Funding Announced To Help 6 Wicklow Community & Voluntary Groups With Energy Bills.

The scheme remains open for applications until January 20th, 2023.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien TD, have today announced funding to support 180 community and voluntary groups with their energy bills.

The Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) was launched last month in response to the rising cost of energy and the impact it is having on the sector.

Under the initiative, small grants are being provided to community groups, development associations, and volunteer-led organisations.

Today, Minister Humphreys and Minister O’Brien published the first tranche of applicants that will benefit from funding.

The scheme remains open for applications until January 20th, 2023 with further tranches of funding set to be announced in the coming weeks.

The successful applicants from Wicklow which will receive funding this week are:

Announcing the first round of successful applicants today, Minister Humphreys said:

“With Christmas less than a fortnight away, our voluntary and community sector continues to play a crucial role in towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

“This new scheme is about easing the pressures that our voluntary and community groups face in terms of their energy costs.

“This week, some 180 organisations across the country will receive financial support, with further tranches of funding to be made in the coming weeks.

“The grants may be small in nature, but they will important all the same in helping to pay an electricity bill or keeping a premises warm during this particularly cold period.

“As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our volunteers.

“Day in and day out, they give up their free time to support the vulnerable in society and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.”