Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced the opening of the 2013 Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund. The fund, which has operated since 1997, supports local environmental initiatives by communities, individuals and not-for-profit groups.
The fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level, and this year the Minister has allocated funding of €400,000 to the scheme, an increase from €337,000 in 2012.
Eligible local projects are those that will support and complement national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Air, Water and Sustainable Development. A variety of projects received funding under the scheme in 2012, including awareness raising initiatives, community gardens, development of biodiversity areas, rainwater harvesting, waste reduction 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 30th September 2013.
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
Application forms can also be downloaded in Word and PDF format, click here.
Source: TidyTowns – Extra Funding for Local Environmental Initiatives
