Grant worth €15,000 awarded to Cavan bog group
West Cavan Bogs Association (WCBA) was today awarded €15,000 by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).
Overall, €1,047,265.26 has been awarded across 54 projects in 24 counties under the ‘Community Water Development Fund Open Call 2025’.
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.
The funding will be used to development a peatland restoration plan for the raised bog in the townlands of Aughaweenagh and Fartrin.
Since 2018 LAWPRO has made over €3.7m available through this funding scheme to communities. Types of projects approved for funding under this year’s open call include: River conservation, restoration and rehabilitation initiatives; Nature-based solutions projects; Preparation of reports: feasibility studies, habitat management plans, ecological surveys, and hydromorphology studies.
Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD welcomed this announcement: “This funding, of over €1 million, is an investment in the protection and restoration of good water quality nationwide. The Community Water Development Fund provides vital support to the tremendous efforts of local communities and voluntary groups around the country who work hard to raise awareness of their local rivers, lakes, streams and biodiversity.
“Each and every project supported plays a part in achieving our collective goal to improve water quality under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.”
Commenting on the 2025 fund, Director of Services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said: “I’m delighted to announce over €1m in grants under the Community Water Development Fund 2025, our largest fund to date supporting local community driven projects in Cavan and nationwide 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.
Providing financial support to community groups to develop and grow is an important step in achieving water quality.”
As well as the Community Water Development Fund, LAWPRO also supports community groups and organisations through its Catchment Support Fund and Small Grants and Events Scheme.
Launched in 2024, the Catchment Support Fund awarded €500,000 last year towards the core running costs of non-governmental organisations working in the area of water quality. Whereas the Small Grants and Events Scheme allows community groups to apply for funding to cover small scale initiatives and events related to water quality.
Full details of grants awarded and for more information on the work of LAWPRO visit: www.lawaters.ie