Laois lags behind in tapping into €2.7 m biodiversity pot

Laois is getting a small fraction of a new €2.7 million fund targeted at helping county councils support biodiversity projects around Ireland.

A total of 188 projects have been approved across all 31 local authorities. Just five projects were approved for Laois County Council costing just over €83,000 or about 3% of the national pot made available.

The money going to Laois and other counties was delivered the under the Government’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF). Laois compares poorly with some neighbouring counties.

Offaly, where Laois man Ricky Whelan is the Biodiversity officer, has the green light for 17 projects with more than €121,000. The biggest chunk of money being spent in Laois is €17,000 for the treatment of Himalayan Balsam an invasive species that prevents biodiversity.

Offaly, where Green Minister Pippa Hackett is based, is also getting cash for a project on the Quagga Mussel in the Shannon.

Carlow has also done well getting over €110,000 for 11 projects.

The €83,035 for Laois biodiversity projects was confirmed during Biodiversity Week when the national funding was also announced. Training and awareness are the biggest areas of spending in Laois.

The projects in Laois that have been approved for funding:

• Pollinator awareness radio ads – €6,375
• Biodiversity awareness on the Portlaoise Orbital Route – €24,089
• IAS treatment at Abbeyleix bog – €10,071
• Biodiversity enhancement at Laois Education Centre – €34,000
• Biodiversity training for Laois County Council staff, Heritage Forum & Laois Chamber – €8,500

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The money was welcomed by Laois Offaly TD and Minister of State Sean Fleming. 

"This is good news for local projects in Laois awarded funding under the LBAF. This fund supports communities to deliver on Ireland’s national objectives for nature. This ranges from projects on invasive species to habitat restoration, awareness-raising to surveys and monitoring work," he said.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, expected funding to all counties would rise.

"As more and more Biodiversity Officers join the ranks of our local authorities, I know that the benefits for nature and people that this Fund provides are only going to grow,” he said.

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Projects approved this year include:

• 8 local authorities joining together to monitor the Quagga mussel invasive species in the Shannon
• 3 local authorities supporting The Shannon Dolphin Project, which is 30 years old this year (2023) making it one of the longest dolphin studies in Europe
• Habitat mapping in Cork 
• Development of an Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Galway City Council
• Installation of closed predator-proof fences at five key breeding wader sites in County Donegal
• Hedgerow survey in Kilkenny

Operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the scheme was first launched in 2018. Since then, a total of just over €6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF for projects that support actions in the 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP).