Preasráiteas: Fógraíonn na hAirí Calleary agus Buttimer maoiniú níos mó ná €1.6 mhilliún do Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus Protestant Aid
Press Release
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Ministers Calleary and Buttimer announce over €1.6 million funding for St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid
- Continued funding to support Saint Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid to ensure continuation of the valuable supports they provide
- Supporting access to essential services and resources, including food, education, household necessities, and emergency hardship assistance for those most in need
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer TD, have today (Tuesday, 22 September 2026) announced over €1.6 million in funding to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Protestant Aid.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to receive funding of €1.41 million, while Protestant Aid will receive €250,000.
Minister Calleary said:
“We’re proud to support St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) in providing vital food, education, hardship, and household supports to those most in need. With more than 11,000 volunteers across Ireland, SVP reaches hundreds of thousands of people each year, offering practical help, dignity, and hope in communities nationwide.
“For SVP, this funding will go some way to ensuring the continuation of their services supporting individuals and families living in poverty across Ireland.
“We are proud to support Protestant Aid also, a charity that has been helping experiencing poverty and hardship in Ireland since 1836, for more than 190 years. This funding will help provide essential financial assistance, educational supports, and offer many other support individuals and families when they need it most.
“In providing this funding, the Government ensures that SVP and Protestant Aid can continue to provide vital essentials such as food support, household and education assistance, energy and fuel supports to those most in need.
“In my view, the longevity and growth of this funding arrangement is a testament to the outstanding work carried out by both SVP and Protestant Aid in supporting individuals and families experiencing poverty and hardship. The continued investment in these organisations reflects the Government’s recognition of the critical role they play in delivering trusted, community-based services that respond to both immediate needs and longer-term challenges.”
Minister Buttimer added:
“The continued investment in St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid is a clear recognition of the invaluable role they play in tackling poverty and supporting vulnerable communities. This funding will help ensure that people facing hardship can access the practical support and advocacy they need to live with dignity and hope.
“The insights and experience of organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid are invaluable in shaping effective policy responses and helping to address the root causes of poverty, deprivation, and social exclusion.
“I am pleased that my Department is continuing its strong collaboration with both organisations as we all pursue our shared ambition of building a just, more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.”
Teresa Ryan, National President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, said:
“This grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht highlights the value of partnership between Government and community organisations in supporting individuals and families experiencing hardship. Through SVP’s core work of confidential home visitation, our volunteers meet people where they are, listen to their needs, and provide practical support and assistance, with dignity and respect. This funding will help us reach those most in need, while also building the friendship, trust and community connections that are at the heart of SVP’s mission.”
Also welcoming the funding, David Webb, the CEO of Protestant Aid, said:
“Protestant Aid wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for its continued support to our work. This funding enables us to provide immediate financial assistance to individuals and families living on or below the poverty line, helping families and individuals meet basic needs during times of significant hardship.
“Government support plays a vital role in allowing us to respond to increasing demand and to reach some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Every cent received goes directly towards helping people navigate the most difficult circumstances with dignity and compassion.
“We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for the Government’s commitment to supporting our work to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion, and improve the lives of those most in need.”
Preasráiteas
Dé Máirt, 22 Meán Fómhair 2026
Fógraíonn na hAirí Calleary agus Buttimer maoiniú níos mó ná €1.6 mhilliún do Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus Protestant Aid
- Maoiniú leanúnach chun tacú le Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus Protestant Aid, d’fhonn a chinntiú go leanfar leis na tacaíochtaí luachmhara a chuireann siad ar fáil
- Tacú le rochtain ar sheirbhísí agus ar acmhainní riachtanacha – lena n-áirítear bia, oideachas, riachtanais tí agus cúnamh éigeandála i gcás cruatain – dóibh siúd is mó atá i ngátar
Inniu (Dé Máirt, 22 Meán Fómhair 2026) d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, agus an tAire Stáit, Jerry Buttimer TD, maoiniú níos mó ná €1.6 mhilliún do Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus do Protestant Aid.
Gheobhaidh Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól maoiniú dar luach €1.41 milliún, agus gheobhaidh Protestant Aid €250,000.
Dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Táimid bródúil as tacú le Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus iad ag soláthar tacaíochtaí ríthábhachtacha – maidir le bia, oideachas, deacrachtaí agus riachtanais tí – dóibh siúd is mó atá i ngátar. Le breis agus 11,000 oibrí deonach ar fud na hÉireann, sroicheann an Cumann na céadta míle duine gach bliain, ag tairiscint cúnamh praiticiúil, dínit agus dóchais i bpobail ar fud na tíre.
“Maidir le Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól, cabhróidh an maoiniú seo lena chinntiú go leanfar dá gcuid seirbhísí a thacaíonn le daoine aonair agus le teaghlaigh atá thíos leis an mbochtaineacht ar fud na hÉireann.
“Táimid bródúil as tacú le Protestant Aid chomh maith; is carthanacht í seo atá ag cabhrú le daoine atá thíos leis an mbochtaineacht agus le cruatan in Éirinn ó 1836 i leith – le breis agus 190 bliain anuas. Cabhróidh an maoiniú seo le cúnamh airgeadais riachtanach agus tacaíochtaí oideachais a sholáthar, chomh maith le cineálacha eile tacaíochta a chur ar fáil do dhaoine aonair agus do theaghlaigh nuair is mó a bhíonn siad ag teastáil uathu.
“Tríd an maoiniú seo a chur ar fáil, cinntíonn an Rialtas gur féidir le Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus le Protestant Aid leanúint de bheith ag soláthar riachtanais ríthábhachtacha – amhail tacaíocht bia, cúnamh tí agus oideachais, agus tacaíocht fuinnimh agus breosla – dóibh siúd is mó atá i ngátar.
“Is léiriú é fad saoil agus fás an chórais mhaoinithe seo, i mo thuairimse, ar an obair den chéad scoth a dhéanann Cumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus Protestant Aid araon chun tacú le daoine aonair agus le teaghlaigh atá thíos leis an mbochtaineacht agus leis an gcruatan. Léirítear san infheistíocht leanúnach sna heagraíochtaí seo go n-aithníonn an Rialtas an ról ríthábhachtach atá acu maidir le seirbhísí iontaofa pobalbhunaithe a sholáthar a fhreagraíonn do riachtanais láithreacha agus do dhúshláin fhadtéarmacha araon.”
Dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Is léiriú soiléir é an infheistíocht leanúnach i gCumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus in Protestant Aid ar an ról fíorthábhachtach atá acu maidir le dul i ngleic leis an mbochtaineacht agus tacú le pobail atá i mbaol. Cabhróidh an maoiniú seo lena chinntiú gur féidir le daoine atá i gcruachás rochtain a fháil ar an tacaíocht phraiticiúil agus ar an tacaíocht abhcóideachta a theastaíonn uathu chun maireachtáil le dínit agus le dóchas.
“Tá léargas agus taithí eagraíochtaí ar nós Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól agus Protestant Aid fíorluachmhar agus beartais éifeachtacha á gceapadh agus agus muid ag iarraidh dul i ngleic le bunfhréamhacha na bochtaineachta, na heaspa agus an eisiaimh shóisialta.
“Tá áthas orm go bhfuil mo Roinnse ag leanúint dá comhoibriú láidir leis an dá eagraíocht agus muid go léir ag saothrú na huaillmhéine comhroinnte atá againn chun sochaí chóir, chuimsitheach a thógáil ina mbeidh deis ag gach duine déanamh go maith.”
Dúirt Teresa Ryan, Uachtarán Náisiúnta Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól:
“Sa deontas seo ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, leagtar béim ar luach na comhpháirtíochta idir an Rialtas agus eagraíochtaí pobail maidir le tacú le daoine aonair agus le teaghlaigh atá i gcruachás. Trí phríomhobair Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól — cuairteanna rúnda ar thithe — téann ár n-oibrithe deonacha i dteagmháil le daoine ina n-áit féin, éisteann siad lena riachtanais, agus cuireann siad tacaíocht agus cúnamh praiticiúil ar fáil, le dínit agus le meas. Cabhróidh an maoiniú seo linn teacht ar na daoine is mó a bhfuil gá acu leis, agus ag an am céanna cabhróidh sé linn an cairdeas, an muinín agus na naisc phobail a chothú atá i gcroílár mhisean Chumann Naomh Uinseann de Pól.”
Ag cur fáilte roimh an maoiniú, chomh maith, dúirt David Webb, POF Protestant Aid:
“Gabhann Protestant Aid buíochas ó chroí leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta as an tacaíocht leanúnach a thugann siad dár gcuid oibre. Cuireann an maoiniú seo ar ár gcumas cúnamh airgeadais láithreach a chur ar fáil do dhaoine aonair agus do theaghlaigh atá ag maireachtáil ar thairseach na bochtaineachta nó faoina bun; cabhraíonn sé leo freastal ar riachtanais bhunúsacha le linn tréimhsí cruatain mhóir.
“Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag tacaíocht an Rialtais maidir le cur ar ár gcumas freagairt don éileamh atá ag méadú agus teacht ar roinnt de na daoine is leochailí inár bpobail. Téann gach pingin a fhaightear go díreach chun cabhrú le daoine déileáil leis na cúinsí is deacra le dínit agus le comhbhá.
“Táimid fíorbhuíoch as an gcomhpháirtíocht seo agus as tiomantas an Rialtais tacú lenár gcuid oibre chun an bhochtaineacht a laghdú, an cuimsiú sóisialta a chur chun cinn, agus saol na ndaoine is mó atá i ngátar a fheabhsú.”