The Community Climate Action Fund is a new fund to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action at a local level. In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Laois County Council will support communities to promote and assist in community climate action.
The Community Climate Action Fund will help members of our community to act in their local areas. Its goal is to shape and build low-carbon, sustainable communities that will contribute to the achieving Ireland’s national climate action and energy targets.
A biodiversity friendly meadow roundabout is created by Portlaoise Tidy Towns. This is an example of a community climate action project – attenuating surface runoff, absorbing CO2 and supporting native biodiversity.
The Community Climate Action Fund will help make Laois more resilient to extreme weather caused by climate change and make the county a better place to live.
There are two funding strands:
Strand-1 – Action: Building Low Carbon Communities: Laois County Council have been given an allocation of €465,000 for projects under Strand 1. Under this scheme, communities will partner with Laois Council to carry out projects that have a direct climate action impact.
Strand 1a – Shared Island Community Climate Action: This strand enables communities and local authorities to carry out a cross-border project in partnership with a community in Northern Ireland. It will be very competitive (€3 million for whole country) and open for all communities to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
How will the Programme work?
Importantly, projects must have a direct climate impact including at least one, preferably more, of the following:
- Reduce Greenhouse gas emissions
- Increase climate resilience of community (help adapt to the consequences of climate change)
- Assist communities transition to low carbon and sustainable economy
Projects should address at least one, but preferably more than one of the following themes:
- Buildings and Energy
- Sustainable Travel
- Food and food waste
- Shopping and recycling
- Local climate action and environmental action
There are two strands of funding available:
- Strand 1 focuses on direct climate action in County Laois
- Strand 1A focuses on cross-border partnerships between community organisations in Laois and organisations in Northern Ireland.
Funding will be allocated to community organisations based on an appraisal of the application forms submitted to Laois County Council and approval of the Minister.
Who can apply?
Eligible community organisations must:
- Be not-for-profit
- Be located within the boundaries of Laois County.
- Submit a completed application form.
- Be registered with the Laois PPN OR be connected with other collectives such as The Wheel, Tidy Towns, OR be a community group with Articles of Association, which hold an AGM with appropriately approved minutes.
Who is NOT eligible for funding?
- Private individuals
- Commercial undertakings
- Schools
- National level community or environmental organisations
Local branches of national organisations may be eligible, once there is a clear financial separation or local branch from national organisation level.
What funding is available?
The Community Climate Action Programme grants can fund up to 100% of all eligible costs for a successful project.
You can apply for different sized grants:
- Small scale projects, less than €20,000
- Medium scale projects, €21,000 to €50,000
- Large scale projects, €51,000 to €100,000
How does my community group apply?
IMPORTANT Before you apply for funding, please contact your Laois Community Climate Action Officer, Karen Moore at kmoore@laoiscoco.ie to discuss your project ideas.
Applications are not currently being accepted but a lot of preparation can be done from now.
When the application window is open (expected summer 2023), all details will be added to this page.
Karen is hosting in-person information sessions with community groups March-July, to explain the fund, what information is needed to develop a fundable project and the application process.
If your community group are interested or want to know more, contact Laois’ Community Climate Action Officer Karen Moore at kmoore@laoiscoco.ie
Documents and Resources
- “Introduction to Laois’s Community Climate Action Programme” presentation slides
- Case studies for project ideas (credit to Kilkenny County Co.)
- Planning projects and applying for funding – a general guide (credit to Waterford City Co.)
- Community Climate Action Fund Framework document
An overview of the video series on the fund
What is fund looking to support and who is eligible to apply?
Jargon buster and examples of community climate action projects
Video on how to apply coming as soon as the fund is open…watch this space!