The LAWPRO Community Water Development Fund 2024 is now open for applications

Community Water Development Fund 2024 Grant Application form

Your local community or voluntary group can now apply for a Community Water Development Fund (CWDF) grant to deliver a project in 2024. This Fund helps local communities deliver projects and initiatives that enhance your local water environment, delivering multiple benefits for water quality, biodiversity and climate action. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) administers the Fund on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There will be €520,000 available in grants under the 2024 Call.

The fund was launched by Minister Malcom Noonan, TD on 28 September during European Sustainable Development Goals Week, which runs from 23 September to 1 October 2023.

The launch was attended by Sadhbh Burt Fitzgerald and Kaethe Burt O’Dea from Bí Urban, a previous recipient of a CWDF grant. Bí Urban, a social enterprise in Stoneybatter, Dublin showcased one of their rain gardens funded under the CWDF – rain gardens are a nature-based solution addressing storm water runoff in urban areas, delivering multiple benefits for water quality, air quality, biodiversity, climate adaptation and community development.

Commenting at the launch of the fund, the Minister of State for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, TD said:
“The Community Water Development Fund is a fantastic support to encourage communities to take positive actions for water quality and biodiversity in their local area. It is great to see how nature-based solutions such as rainwater planters can support the wider management of rainwater and surface water runoff in urban areas, as demonstrated here at today’s launch in the heart of Dublin City. It’s just one tangible example of the work underway to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13, Climate Action.”

Speaking at the launch, Margaret Keegan, Regional Co-Ordinator, LAWPRO said: “The Community Water Development Fund has supported locally led community projects since 2018. The Fund assists the delivery of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, which enables implementation of the Water Framework Directive. To date, over €2m has been awarded in grants to communities across Ireland. LAWPRO, through the Fund supports groups to deliver water linked Sustainable Development Goals. Group projects build local capacity and achieve the SDGs by active involvement with their local water bodies”.

Interested community and voluntary groups can download the Guidelines and complete the grant application form online at lawaters.ie.

An information video is available which explains all about the Fund and use of the online portal – see here Local Authority Waters Programme (vimeo.com)

The Fund is open to all community and voluntary groups to help in the protection and management of water quality, both locally and in the wider catchment. Grants awarded will range from €1,000 to €25,000.

For support with your application contact your local Community Water Officer Communities Team – Local Authority Water Programme (lawaters.ie)

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 6th Dec 2023.

If you experience any technical difficulties on the website, please email funding@lawaters.ie

Minister Malcom Noonan, TD at the official launch of the Community Water Development Fund 2024 on behalf of the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). The Minister is pictured with Margaret Keegan, Regional Coordinator, LAWPRO along with LAWPRO staff, local Stoneybatter residents and representatives from Bí Urban social enterprise.

Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, was adopted by all 193 United Nations Member States in September 2015.
It is a ‘plan of action for people, planet and prosperity’ and aims to deliver a more sustainable, prosperous and peaceful future for the entire world. Agenda 2030 sets out a framework for a sustainable future. This framework is made up of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. The SDGs represent the most ambitious agreement that the UN has ever reached.