€27m "landmark" climate action funding welcomed by local TD

GRANTS Applications open across the country for one of the largest funds ever allocated to support local projects with climate action

The Government’s new €27 million Community Climate Action Fund will "significantly help" local organisations to build low carbon communities, predicted Deputy Brendan Smith.

Environment and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan launched the fund during a visit to Cavan this week. More than €400,000 has been allocated to groups in County Cavan.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Deputy Smith said: “I whole-heartedly welcome this landmark climate funding programme. It will see an investment of €439,000 for community projects in County Cavan, which will significantly help local organisations who are building low carbon communities.

“It will also enable groups to design climate solutions for the specific needs of their locality.”

He added he was also pleased to see the Shared Island approach to this issue.

The fund is being financed by the national Climate Action Fund allocation of €24 million and an allocation of €3 million, which is being provided by the Government’s Shared Island Fund to support cross-border and all-island community climate action initiatives.

The landmark climate funding programme, which will be administered by local authorities, can provide amounts of up to €100,000 to larger local projects over an 18-month period. However, the fund is designed to be flexible enough to provide lesser amounts to smaller and medium-sized local action programmes.

Projects selected for funding under the programmes will have to contribute to national climate and energy targets across the following five themes: community energy; travel; food and waste; shopping and recycling; and local climate and environmental action.