EirGrid North Connacht Community Benefit Fund is now open for applications for Phase 1. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 13th March.
Applications can be made online at https://eirgridcommunityfund.submit.com/show/54
Or scan here to access the Application Form
The €1.53 million fund will be released on a phased basis as the project progresses –
- Phase 1 releases 40% of the total fund at the start of the construction phase
- Phase 2 releases 30% of the total fund mid project and
- Phase 3 releases 30% of the total fund when the project goes live (when the line becomes a part of the electricity grid and electricity runs through it).
As part of phase 1, a fund value of €612,000 is now available to community and voluntary organisations for projects which are located within 2km of the North Connacht cable route- you can see the area of benefit map here.
The following principles are at the centre of the North Connacht Community Benefit Fund strategy.
The fund:
- must support projects that are community-led.
- will leave a positive legacy within communities that host the North Connacht infrastructure.
- will support projects which align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The fund is divided into 3 funding streams: Community, Sustainability and Biodiversity and an equal balance of funding is available across each stream.
Eirgrid have appointed SECAD as the fund administrator and we would encourage applicants to reach out to them and to attend information sessions.
See information on these events below:
| Tuesday 24th February | 6.30pm-8.30pm | Swinford Cultural Centre |
| Wednesday 25th February | 10:30am – 12:30pm | Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina |
| Wednesday 25th February | 02:30pm – 04:30pm | The Shambles – Community Resource Centre, Ballaghadereen |
If submitting an application please ensure that you take the time to read the essential information relating to the fund including information on EirGrid, the area of benefit, the Fund Guidelines, SECAD and the application process. This information is available on the EirGrid website at https://www.eirgrid.ie/northconnacht#communitybenefitfund and Fund Guidelines can be viewed and downloaded by clicking this link.
It is essential to note that applications from groups/organisations that do not submit the required documentation with the application form, such as planning permission, planning exemption or owner permission, may not proceed to evaluation.
If you register as a new user and do not receive the confirmation message within a few minutes of signing up, please check your spam or junk mail folders, just in case the confirmation email was delivered there instead of your inbox. If so, select the confirmation message and click Not Spam, which will allow future messages to get through.
If you have any questions, or would like help with your application, please do not hesitate to contact SECAD, Tel: 021 – 461 3432; email: [email protected]