Fingal County Council launches €1.3m fund for Community Climate Action Programme

Fingal County Council has launched phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Programme which supports community groups, sports clubs, youth clubs and everything in-between, with funding to deliver local climate action measures to reduce emissions in a community setting.

The grants are funded under Strand 1 Building Low-Carbon Communities as part of the Government Department of Climate, Energy Climate Action Programme.

Fingal County Council has an allocation of €1,303,669 to spend on community climate action projects.

A total of 75 applications were received before the deadline in December.

They were assessed and 55 applications have been approved by the Department.

Mayor of Fingal Tom O’Leary said ‘there are numerous examples of communities leading in climate action now all over Fingal.

Skerries Sea Scouts have a new solar PV system, light fittings were switched over to LEDs and windows replaced.

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, Rivervalley Community Centre and St. Finian’s and Fingallian’s GAA are just some locations where new solar systems have been installed.

These projects and many more across Fingal demonstrate the appetite and ability within communities to deliver climate actions 

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council Annemarie Farrelly commented ‘Congratulations to the successful applicants and I wish you well throughout the process of delivering your climate projects. Each and every action will lead to a lowering of emissions by communities around Fingal, and we thank you for your ongoing commitment’.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien launched the Community Climate Action Programme allocating an additional €2.4m to the local authorities budgets for projects. There are three grant scales, the smaller scale grants are for projects up to €20k, medium scale up to €50k and the larger scale up to €100k.

Successful applicants have received funding allocations under the five themes: community, energy, travel, shopping, and, recycling, projects, food and waste and environmental and climate action.

There is wide variety of projects– from insulating community and sports buildings, fitting new doors and windows, installing solar PV and battery systems, upgrading lighting to LEDs, improving cycling parking, and access to bike repair, developing composting in community gardens and allotments, introducing local swap or return initiatives, community leaf mould and fashion upcycling.

Director of Services David Storey said ‘the importance of reducing emissions cannot be underestimated. We are keen to deliver projects as soon as possible to reduce emissions at community level and we will provide all the support needed and to build on the success of phase 1’.

During phase 1 (2024-2026), 160 separate climate actions were delivered in Fingal, lowering emissions from community settings.

This is all part of a national effort to build low-carbon, sustainable communities which will contribute to achieving?Ireland’s?climate targets.

This is all part of Fingal’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions which are causing climate change. We have scrutinized our own delivery of services and have a number of actions to deliver as part of the 5-year Climate Action Plan.

For more information please go to the Community Climate Action Page at: Community Climate Action Fingal | Fingal County Council