Waters scheme awards grants to several Cork projects
Schull Tidy Towns was awarded 6860 for Schull river enhancement. Picture: Andy Gibson
More than €137,000 has been awarded to 10 groups in Cork by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).
The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, announced that €137,167 in funding has been allocated to several projects across Cork aimed at improving water quality.
The funding has been awarded through the Community Water Development Fund and the Catchment Support Fund, both administered by LAWPRO on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Under the Community Water Development Fund, local communities and groups receive grants for projects and initiatives to enhance local waterbodies, thereby helping to improve water quality and protect biodiversity.
Projects in Cork awarded funding under the Community Water Development Fund include the Bandon Environmental Action Group, which was awarded €6,072 for the removal of riverbank invasives; Bantry Community Marine Centre CLG, which was awarded €14,000 for an ecological assessment of Bantry marine activity, and the Cork Sub Aqua Club, which was awarded €14,826 for the protection and promotion of Oysterhaven and Kinsale seagrass beds.
Other groups awarded under this fund include the Cork River Alliance Group, which was allocated €5,643 for river monitoring and a pipe and contaimination survey; Gougane Barra Angling Club, which was awarded €18,124 for a weed removal project; Schull Tidy Towns, which was awarded 6860 for Schull river enhancement, and The Crann Centre, which was awarded €3,995 for a nature-based solution to floodplain connectivity and habitat enhancement on the Owenanare River.
The Catchment Support Fund builds the capacity of community groups actively involved in water quality management by providing financial assistance for their core costs, including staff salaries, administration and promotional materials.
Groups allocated funding under the Catchment Support Fund include the Cork River Alliance Group, allocated €5,000, East Cork Rivers Trust, also allocated €5,000, Green Skibbereen CLG, allocated €16,397, StreamScapes CLG, allocated €24,750, and the Tracton Biodiversity Group, affiliated to Tracton Community Council T/A Knocknamanagh CLG, allocated €16,500.
Director of services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said local communities play “a vital role in protecting and improving our water quality”.
“The Local Authority Waters Programme is proud to support the work of community groups, volunteers and NGOs across the country through our funding programmes, helping them take action to improve and protect our waterways for current and future generations,” said Mr Coleman.
"They are also aimed at groups working to protect our waterbodies against further deterioration up to 2027, as required under the EU’s Water Framework Directive."
For more information on available funding, or LAWPRO, visit: www.lawaters.ie.
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