Five Offaly water projects to receive funding

Five Offaly projects are to receive a funding allocation from the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), Community Water Development Fund Open Call 2024.

Welcoming the allocations, Minister of State Pippa Hackett: This is a fund that supports local effort and I am particularly struck by the emphasis on awareness raising by these groups.

“To use a water analogy, every drop of rain will some day make a river and every river makes a sea, and so it is with awareness and education. These projects are driven by Clara Tidy Towns, Rahan Community Hall, 2nd Offaly Scout Group, Geashill Tidy Towns and Clonbullogue Development Association. The impact of the work of these groups is immeasurable and invaluable.”

Offaly projects to receive funding under this call are:

*Clara Tidy Towns: River Street Rainwater Garden -Phase 1 Design: €3,190.

*Rahan Community Hall: Flood alleviation – Hall car park & Road: €2,214.

*2nd Offaly Scout Group: Water science family days and Brosna river clean up: €1,000

*Geashill Tidy Towns: An investigation into the use of native aquatic plants to improve water quality in a SuDs System: €1,550

*Clonbullogue Development Association: River Figile Improvement Project: €5,300

Under the fund, local communities and groups were invited to apply for financial assistance to support the delivery of projects and initiatives to enhance local water bodies and benefit water quality and biodiversity.

Since 2018, LAWPRO has made over €2.7m available through this funding scheme to local communities and groups, assisting in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan. and wetlands enhancement works.

Commenting on the 2024 fund, Director of Services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said: “We are delighted to fund local community driven projects that will go towards improving water bodies. LAWPRO was set up to coordinate and support efforts to achieve good water quality and these types of projects are at the heart of what we do. Community engagement is fundamental in dealing with local issues and the fund empowers groups to take action to benefit their local water bodies and the surrounding environment.”

Full details of grants awarded are available online at www.lawaters.ie and www.catchments.ie