A total of €523,000 – through 142 individual grants – has been awarded from the Community Water Development Fund, to support local community efforts to enhance water quality in streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas around the country.
The fund is administered by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) with funding provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The funding follows the 2023 open call that saw 142 successful applications from across the country.
First introduced in 2018, this fund supports the delivery of projects and initiatives by local communities and groups that aim to enhance local water bodies to benefit water quality, biodiversity, and communities. The number of applications received by LAWPRO has increased steadily since the grant scheme was first introduced.
Community guardianship of local water catchments is playing a vital role in the protection and improvement of water quality in many localities in Laois and Offaly.
In Offaly, I am delighted to see the communities of Birr, Kilcormac, Clara, Ballycumber and Ferbane included in this year’s funding. Projects include the promotion of the biodiversity and history of Offaly rivers, including the Camcor, Brosna and Silver, to nature based solutions to storm water. It is wonderful to see such practical and informative work underway locally.
In Laois, I am delighted to see the communities of The Heath, Camross, Durrow and Killeshin funded under the Community Water Development Fund this year. Projects include the development of a Gallery Wall to display biodiversity themed posters, the installation of a Drinking Water Fountain at The Heath National School and improved Water body access, fencing repairs and litter clean up at Killeshin.
My heartiest congratulations also go to Camross Tidy Towns on achieving the Blue Dot Award. Blue Dots are catchments which are mostly unpolluted and contain Ireland’s best quality waters. I am aware of the huge local effort on this and send my gratitude to all involved. The Blue Dot tells visitors that this location is meeting targets under UN Sustainable Development Goal 6- Clean Water and Sanitation.
Comments