Longford MD hear of €328,000 Community Climate Action Programme fund

Longford County Council is putting a call out to local community groups to carry out local climate action projects.
The local authority has a budget of €328,000 to be dispersed to groups who can deliver environmentally focused projects.
Longford has been awarded €328,000 under the Community Climate Action Programme fund to create a low carbon and climate resilient county. This will be achieved by delivering and promoting best practice in climate action at a local level.
Details of the programme were outlined to members of the Longford Municipal District at the November meeting of the authority.

Linda Beirne, Longford County Council’s Community Climate Action Officer, told the members about the fund: “This allocation is part of a €24m national budget to support communities to stimulate and affect real change in the area of climate action. The overarching aim of this programme is to build low carbon, sustainable communities that will contribute to Longford's climate targets.”

This is strand 1: Building Low Carbon Communities, with Strand 1A titled Shared Island Community Climate Action set for cross-border projects.
The Council, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications launched the Community Climate Action Programme earlier this year.
The programme aims to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action at a local level and provide these communities with the opportunities to take a holistic approach and actively shape their transition to a low carbon and sustainable community.

Funding is available for 100% of the project and communities can apply for up to €20,000, €50,000 or €100,000.
Projects of interest would address the themes of energy; travel; food and waste; shopping and recycling; and local climate and environmental action. Projects can include a suite of measures, not just one specific action and successful applicants under this scheme will deliver a variety of projects that have a direct climate action impact.
Eligible communities must be: not-for-profit, located in the operational area of Longford County Council, registered with the PPN, Tidy Towns or a community group with Articles of Association or a Constitution, which hold an AGM, and for which approved minutes are available.

Examples of eligible groups include local charities, community centres, local environmental groups, sports clubs, and social enterprises.
Groups are encouraged to get in touch with Longford County Council’s Community Climate Action Officer to discuss and develop their project ideas. The submissions can be made to Longford County Council from December 8 2023 to February 29, 2024.

Cllr Gerry Warnock said the spend of €328,000 on climate action projects in the county was very welcome, but asked if the Department had indicated a timeline for the spend.
Ms Beirne said evaluations will take place at a local level, and forward to the Department will have the final say. She said the contracts could be in place by next August.

Cllr Seamus Butler asked for templates of the types of community projects eligible. Ms Beirne said initiatives like reducing the climate impact of a building, retrofitting of community buildings, installation of solar panels and LEDs could qualify under the programme. Safer access to cycle and active travel routes were also flagged as potential projects.