Funding Supports and Schemes

Environmental protection is not only the responsibility of government, but also of citizens, both locally and nationally. A range of environmental supports, programmes and schemes are available on a local, national and EU level, which provide funding and assistance to individuals, community groups and organisations who are looking to start or develop an environmental project.

The Community Environment Action Fund (formerly Local Agenda 21) has operated since 1997, promoting sustainable development by assisting small-scale environmental projects at local level. The projects involve partnership arrangements between local authorities and various local groups including community groups, schools and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The Fund encourages involvement of local communities in local action and decision-making and assists them in working towards the goal of sustainable development. The value of the scheme is enhanced by the voluntary effort that it facilitates.

The Fund is administered by local authorities, while the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) maintains a co-ordinating role. Eligible projects support and complement national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Air, Water and Sustainable Development. Local authorities are required to provide an equivalent amount of funding to successful projects as the funding provided by DECC. Funding can also be supplemented by other sources, for example, the private sector, in order to maximise the potential for partnership arrangements. A wide variety of projects and schemes have been supported under the Fund in previous years including community gardens, allotments and compost schemes, rainwater harvesting systems, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions.

Due to the restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic DECC has extended the completion date for Projects of the 2019 Community Environment Action Fund from August 2020 to the end of December 2020. We are currently examining the feasibility of the 2020 Scheme taking into consideration the current public health guidelines and restrictions. It is expected that applications for the next Community Environment Action Fund will be delayed until Q1 of 2021.​

Apply for the Community Environment Action Fund

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has invested over €16.3 million to co-fund local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives since 1997. Local authorities are responsible for selecting suitable anti-litter awareness projects for funding and deciding on the grant allocations in individual cases. Projects/activities should seek to promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and graffiti and should, as far as possible, have a particular focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups, and on involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action.

The criteria for selecting anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness projects:

• Projects/activities should seek to promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and graffiti and should, as far as possible, have a particular focus on involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action and on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups
• Grants should be used, where possible, to leverage local business co-funding of education and awareness measures
• The maximum grant available in any individual case may be up to 70% of the overall cost of the project, with the balance being met by way of local contribution
• Where a local authority is not directly involved in a project, it must be fully satisfied that the project will be satisfactorily implemented
• Projects should be to a high standard and should aim at establishing or replicating best practice in relation to litter education/awareness measures.

If your community group or organisation would like to apply for grant aid for an anti-litter or anti-graffiti awareness project, please contact your local authority.

The LIFE Programme provides funding for the support of Environment, Nature Conservation and Climate Action projects throughout the European Union (EU). Applications are encouraged from public and private organisations seeking co-funding for projects. Large and small companies, government and NGOs, Higher Education Institutes and community groups can participate. LIFE has a budget of €5.4 billion for 2021-2027. Every year a call for proposals is launched around April. Following competitive selection, awards are made that are typically in the range of €1 million to €5 million for projects with durations of three to five years.

Read more about the LIFE Programme