€790,000 will fund small, local projects which will improve environment – Hogan
28/09/11
€395,000 allocated by Dep with matching funding by local authorities.
Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government today, 28 September, announced funding for local environmental initiatives by communities, individuals and non-profit groups and organisations. The Minister has allocated funding of €395,000 to local authorities to fund projects under the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2011. Matching funding by local authorities will bring shared potential partnership funding to €790,000. The Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. Eligible projects are those that will support and complement, at a local level, national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Air, Water and Sustainable Development.
Announcing the scheme Minister Hogan stated "I am delighted to announce the Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund for 2011. This €395,000 Fund provides valuable assistance to local groups. It supports, at the grass roots level, efforts to improve the environment, to make our communities more sustainable and to increase general awareness of environmental issues. Local authorities provide additional funding to the local groups as well as essential support. The projects also attract funding from businesses and other organisations. All of this helps to facilitate a partnership approach within local communities."
The LA21 Environmental Partnership Fund has operated since 1997. A total of 448 projects were funded in 2010; including community gardens and allotments, biodiversity projects, environmental education programmes, waste reduction initiatives, and local environmental planning. Groups seeking funding for eligible projects are invited to make an application to their local authority (application forms are available from the local authorities).
Completed application forms should be returned to the relevant local authority at the latest by 19 October 2011. Application forms, local authority contacts, and further information on the LA21 Environmental Partnership Fund can be obtained from the Department's website: www.environ.ie
