Improving water quality in Tipp
Over €88k for projects
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, have announced €88,589 in funding for projects aimed at improving water quality in Tipperary. The funding has been awarded through the Community Water Development Fund and the Catchment Support Fund, both administered by the Local Authority Waters Programme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
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.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne, welcomed the announcement: “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. My Department’s funding supports these groups to deliver meaningful projects that protect and restore local rivers, lakes and streams.”
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, added: “Communities are passionate about their rivers, streams, lakes and coastal areas, and I’m delighted that the €2.4m we’re announcing today will support local efforts to protect and restore them."
Projects in Tipperary awarded funding were:
- Community Water Development Fund in Tipperary:
Borrisoleigh Community Centre - Water Harvesting for Borrisoleigh Community Centre: €24,970
Kilcommon Tidy Towns - Kilcommon river biodiversity & health survey: €13,000
- Catchment Support Fund in Tipperary:
- Cabragh Wetlands Centre CLG - South East : €50,000
Suircan Environmental CLG - South East: €619
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. While 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.
Both funds help community groups and organisations to deliver a wide range of projects to improve water quality nationwide, including:
River and catchment conservation and restoration: initiatives to restore and protect local rivers and their ecosystems.
Commenting on the 2026 fund, Director of Services for the Local Authority Waters Programme, Anthony Coleman, said: “Local communities play a vital role in protecting and improving our water quality. The Local Authority Waters Programme is proud to support the work of community groups, volunteers and NGOs across the country through our funding programmes, helping them take action to improve and protect our waterways for current and future generations.”
Local Authority Waters Programme staff have seen increased demand for these funding schemes which have grown significantly in recent years. These funding schemes are an important commitment within Ireland’s Water Action Plan 2024, the roadmap to restore our waterbodies to ‘good’ status or better and to protect against further deterioration up to 2027, as required under the EU’s Water Framework Directive.
For full details of grants awarded and more information on the work of the Local Authority Waters Programme visit: www.lawaters.ie.