funding for garden projects available - apply now !

The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund is no longer accepting applications for 2009 funding. Funding for 2010 will commence in February. The fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small, non-profit environmental projects at a local level.

Some of the projects supported to date have included community gardens, allotments and composting schemes as well as rainwater harvesting schemes, educational initiatives and environmental projects. The fund has also assisted Galway and Limerick in attaining fair-trade city status.

The Department of Environment provides a total grant of €350,000 for the fund. This grant is matched by the local authorities, bringing the total fund to €700,000.

To qualify for this fund projects should complement national environmental policies such as Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

Any project that will improve local levels of environmental awareness, or help to build greener more sustainable communities can apply for funding. Individuals, communities, groups or organisations can apply. Information and advice on how to prepare a project is available from the Environmental Awareness/Education Officer at your local authority.

We will keep you up todate with what schemes were awarded with the funding for 2009.