54 community water projects awarded over €1m in funding
The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) has today (Tuesday, February 25) awarded just over €1 million in funding 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.
Since 2018, LAWPRO has made over €3.7 million available through the scheme to communities, assisting in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through Ireland’s Water Action Plan.
The funding provided annually has increased significantly during this period, from €185,800 in 2018 to over €1 million in 2025.
The types of projects approved for funding under this year’s open call included:
- 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 welcomed the 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," he said.
Anthony Coleman, director of services for LAWPRO, said that the Community Water Development Fund 2025 is the largest to date supporting local community driven projects 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," he said.
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.
The Small Grants and Events Scheme allows community groups to apply for funding to cover small scale initiatives and events related to water quality.
