Projects to improve water quality in Laois receive big boost to funding
Voluntary groups in Killeshin, Portlaoise and Mountmellick will benefit from the funding
Over €50,683 in funding has been announced for projects aimed at improving water quality in Laois.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, announced the funding which will be awarded through the Community Water Development Fund and the Catchment Support Fund.
Of the €2,445,229 awarded nationwide, €1,332,492 will be delivered through the Community Water Development Fund to 92 projects nationally and €1,112,737 through the Catchment Support Fund to 56 groups across 20 counties, in addition to two national projects.
Under the Community Water Development Fund, local communities and groups receive grants for projects and initiatives to enhance local water bodies thereby helping to improve water quality and protect biodiversity.
The Catchment Support Fund builds the capacity of community groups actively involved in water quality management by providing financial assistance for their core costs, including staff salaries, administration and promotional materials.
Three projects in Laois have been allocated funding under the scheme, with voluntary groups in Killeshin, Portlaoise and Mountmellick benefitting from the financial boost.
Killeshin Waterworks Committee will receive the largest sum of money in Laois with €28,230 given for biodiversity and water quality improvement as well as an educational display at the Killeshin Reservoir.
Mountmellick Women's Shed has been awarded €14,853 for the removal of invasive species from Owenass river subcatchment and Portlaoise Tidy Towns has received €7,600 for the People's Park pond conservation project.
The funding schemes are considered an important commitment within Ireland's Water Action Plan 2024 which is a roadmap to restore the country's waterbodies to a 'good' status or better and to prevent further deterioration as required under the EU's Water Framework Directive.
Laois TD Sean Fleming has welcomed the news of the funding, saying: "The Killeshin Waterworks Committee, Mountmellick Women’s Shed, and Portlaoise Tidy Towns are local voluntary groups who care about water quality in their local areas.
"The Government is pleased to support these works, carried out by these committees. The country could not survive without these voluntary groups. We all appreciate those people who give their time on a voluntary basis to improve facilities in their local communities."
Also commenting on the announcement of the funding, Minister Browne said: "Local action by communities and groups is critical in our efforts to protect our waters. Through the Community Water Development Fund and the Catchment Support Fund, we are providing significant investment in the grassroots work of local communities and voluntary groups who care deeply about water quality in their local areas."
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme