Tidy Towns Grant Scheme
Tidy Towns Grant Scheme 2025 Open
Deadline Friday, February 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The National Tidy Towns Competition 2025 continues in it’s new format and in order to assist you and support your efforts, Tidy Towns Grants should complement at least one of the National Tidy Towns competition categories. The Community Climate action category is designed to encourage local activities that support our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy – for example tree planting, promoting smarter travel, innovative waste management (grass mulching) etc.
Applications are invited from interested not for profit bodies, groups, committees and organisations (excluding sporting organisations) who intend to engage in environmental/amenity works during 2025. Any works for which funding is sought must be of benefit to the community. All work must be carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner and comply with all relevant legislation. Satisfactory arrangements for future management and maintenance must also be in place.
Supplies of litter picking materials such as litter pickers and bags will be supplied on request from environment@laoiscoco.ie. Litter Wardens will facilitate the pick- up of bags of collected litter.
General conditions
A. Please include at least one quotation for all works included in your application.
B. Completed application forms should be returned by 4pm, Friday 28th February 2025 at the latest. Groups must be tax compliant.
C. Progress on projects should be monitored and all successful applicants are required to furnish receipts/photos and return your completion report by 31st October 2025
D. In order to ensure that the fund prioritises locally identified environmental needs, all projects should complement a minimum of one of the various categories of the National Tidy Towns competition. However, your Committee can still apply for a grant irrespective of your involvement in the national competition.
E. Applicants must ensure that relevant projects (i.e. if your project is engaging children in an activity) are carried out in accordance with all Child Protection Policies and Procedures currently in place by Laois County Council.
F. By completing this form, The Tidy Towns Committee:
- Confirms that the funding provided will only be used for the purposes outlined in this application form and that no cost, or part thereof, for the activities outlined in this application form has not already been spent nor goods or services purchased.
- Confirms that individual Tidy Town Committee members or volunteers will not be paid any part of the grant awarded in return for goods or services.
- Confirms that the Tidy Towns Committee shall acknowledge the support of Laois County Council on all publicity material, social media and in events associated with this funding.
Your 2025 grant application is invalid unless a Completion Report for last year(2024) has been submitted.
General notes to applicants:
1. Projects should complement the ongoing work of the committee in a minimum of one of the National Tidy Town’s competition areas (please see application noting these categories).
2. All appropriate insurances and ongoing maintenance plans should also be in place prior to funding being secured.
3. Laois County Council reserves the right to request a completion report from successful applicants. Failure to supply this may result in future applications not being considered.
4. It should be noted that this form and any subsequent correspondence may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Acts and under the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations.
5. Finally, it is the responsibility of all Groups to ensure they comply with all relevant legislation and guidelines regarding Health & Safety. Laois County Council will not be liable to the Tidy Towns Committee or any other party in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from the subject matter of this application form.
Download application:
Apply online:
Community Environmental Grants Scheme Open
Deadline Friday, February 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
General conditions
- All receipts relating to the application must be submitted when works are completed and registered with Revenue.
- Include before and after photographs together with completion report.
- Community Grants are available to non-profit bodied groups and organisations only.
- All works carried out must comply with Planning Legislation and all Local Authority requirements. Applicants should liaise with relevant Local Authority sections and it is recommended that all bodies, groups, committees and organisations arrange adequate and suitable insurance cover and provide for maintenance and upkeep after the works are completed subject to the satisfaction of Laois County Council.
- If proposed works (for example landscaping and other similar types) are on private property (that is to say not Council owned) written permission must be given by landowner and copy supplied.
- The maximum grant will be determined based on the number of complete and valid applications received.
What projects are eligible to qualify?
Projects designed to improve and/or protect amenities or for the enhancement of the appearance of an area will be considered along with environmental and amenity initiatives that will benefit the local community.
For example, amenity works including landscaping, development of open spaces (planting trees & shrubs, flowerbeds etc) and/or purchase of equipment to maintain/improve/clean up areas/open spaces.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Tidy Town groups are not eligible for this grant.
- Incomplete applications will be returned.
- Failure to submit all relevant details by the closing date will result in the application being refused.
- Applicants that did not return receipts/invoices/completed report sheets for 2024 will not be eligible to apply.
How do I apply?
Download application:
Apply online: https://laoiscoco.submit.com
The application form must be accompanied with the following:
- A copy of minutes of a meeting held by the applicant body within the past six months.
- A detailed estimate/quotation for 2025 of the cost of the proposed works. Please include a written quotation for goods and services. (It is important that cost estimates should be as accurate and realistic as possible).
- Be revenue compliant and provide TRN / Revenue Number for your group/committee, this must be applied for through from Revenue.
- New Committees or those who have changed their details must also request a supplier set up form from the Community Section or download online to complete bank payment details.
Applications can be sent via post to Patricia O'Rourke, Community Department, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, JFL Ave, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 EHP9 or email communitygrants@laoiscoco.ie
Deadline Friday, February 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM