The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) has opened the Community Water Development Fund for 2025 and welcomes grant applications from community groups in Mayo and nationwide.
LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of the 31 local authorities in Ireland coordinating efforts to achieve good water quality in every county in Ireland.
Speaking about the fund, Éanna Hyland, Community Water Officer for Mayo and north Roscommon, said: “We are delighted to once again be able to offer community groups grant aid for water quality projects in Mayo. The Community Water Development Fund has supported locally led projects since 2018 and this year the fund changed. Medium to large scale water quality projects are the focus of this call and we welcome applications from €5,000 to €50,000
and beyond subject to procurement. Please contact me if your organisation is interested in making an application.”
The fund was officially launched by Minister Malcolm Noonan and Minister Roderick O’Gorman in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny earlier this month.
The fund supports communities to deliver positive actions for water quality, protection and awareness through community grants. In the 2024 funding call, over €700,000 grant aid was awarded to 155 water quality projects.
Some points to note:
- The CWDF 2025 will be more focused towards capital works, such as:
- Riparian management/tree planting, planting of native species/hedgerows, de-tunnelling, etc.
- Creation of habitat near river, lake, wetland
- Fish passage projects
- Removal of invasive species and biosecurity planning
- Silt trapping or ‘Slow the Flow’ Natural Flood Retention Measures (e.g. the addition of large woody debris to drains)
- Pollution management/prevention measures (e.g., wetlands, buffer zones)
- Flood management measures (e.g., Swales, attenuation ponds)
- Wetlands to promote wildlife and reduce pollution and flooding
This list is not exhaustive as such but it gives a general indication as to what may be funded under our CWDF 2025.
2. The CWDF window is open as of yesterday, 18th September and closes on 20th November 2024. This is a two-month window of opportunity for groups to get applications.
LAWPRO’s focus will be on the quality of applications submitted, given this pivot towards capital-type works.
3. Only one application per not-for-profit group
4. Minimum grant award of €5,000, up to a maximum grant award €50,000
5. 2024 grantees: grants must be drawn down before 6th Dec 2024 to be eligible to apply for CWDF 2025.
The fund is open to all community and voluntary groups to help in the protection and management of water quality, both locally and in the wider catchment. Interested community and voluntary groups can download the guidelines and complete the grant application form online at lawaters.ie with a deadline of the 20th November 2024.
For more information on the Community Water Development Fund open call visit: http://www.lawaters.ie
