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Check out the latest funding calls, grants announcements and information about the Local Authority Waters Programme’s various funding schemes.

Funding call opens to support communities to deliver water quality improvement projects

The Local Authority Waters Programme launches its 2026 Catchment Support Fund.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) has launched its 2026 Catchment Support Fund to help build further capacity in non-governmental organisations and community groups working in the area of water quality in Ireland. 

The fund which is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and managed by LAWPRO, provides direct support towards core organisational running costs in addition to supporting the delivery of community-based water quality projects across Ireland.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said the Department is committed to the funding. 

“We must commend the numerous community groups across the country, who work tirelessly to improve water quality in their local area. I am delighted that my Department continues to provide financial support to these groups, through the Catchment Support Fund managed by LAWPRO, to enable them to build capacity on the ground, improve water quality and to contribute to the delivery of Ireland’s Water Action Plan,” he commented.

The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD followed:

“I encourage local groups to apply for this funding. The work many local groups do to address water quality in their area is vital in keeping our waters clean and healthy. Clean water underpins biodiversity — from freshwater pearl mussels and salmon to the insects, plants, and birds that rely on healthy rivers, lakes, and wetlands. By improving water quality, communities are safeguarding habitats, restoring nature, and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

Interested groups should speak to their local LAWPRO representative to access this funding.”  

Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO said: “We are delighted to be able to continue supporting organisations working to improve water quality across Ireland. Community engagement is fundamental in dealing with local issues and this fund empowers groups to grow their capacity to protect their local rivers, lakes, coastal areas and the surrounding environment.

A key element of LAWPRO’s Catchment Support Fund is to build capacity within groups and organisations to deliver water quality actions that support the objectives of Ireland’s Water Action Plan 2024. The Plan specifically seeks to “ensure further activation, development, and support of local level initiatives (rivers trusts, catchment partnerships) in support of the delivery of Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan.”

Over €880,000 was awarded to 40 organisations under the Catchment Support Fund in 2025. A significant change this year sees the Catchment Support Fund being launched before LAWPRO’s Community Water Development Fund. This is in direct response to requests from groups to shorten the period between funding calls and enabling them to plan and develop water quality projects of greater scale and impact.

Furthermore, the Catchment Support Fund is now recognised as a significant contributor to Ireland’s implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as clean water and sanitation, climate action, life on land, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the goals.

Under the 2026 Catchment Support Funding call, organisations are invited to apply for financial assistance under Stream 1 to support essential organisational costs to enable them to complete projects for water quality improvements. Such costs may include statutory and/or legal fees, insurance costs associated with catchment management, accountancy fees, website annual support costs, an organisation’s promotional materials and group development activities.

In cases where an organisation has CLG status and a proven track record with LAWPRO, organisations are also invited to apply for Stream 2 funding for capacity building including staff costs, rent and rates. The fund will open for applications on 13th October via LAWPRO’s online portal: Surveys | Online Consultation Portal of the Waters and Communities Office.

LAWPRO Awards Over €800,000 to Support Community Groups Involved in Water Quality Management

On 9th April 2025 the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our river catchments, is awarding €856,260 in funding to 40 community groups in 19 counties under the ‘Catchment Support Fund Open Call 2025’.

The Catchment Support Fund launched last year as a direct response to the Resilience Pilot Project Evaluation and an external review of LAWPRO’s other fund – the Community Water Development Fund. Both reviews indicated that funding was necessary to build capacity in local groups to support Ireland’s third River Basin Management Plan, the Water Action Plan 2024.

Over €500,000 was awarded to 37 organisations in 2024. The 2025 allocation will help build the capacity of non-governmental organisations focussed on water quality by providing funding to enable them to achieve their goals.

The funding will support a diverse range of projects nationwide including:

  • River and catchment conservation: initiatives to restore and protect local rivers and their ecosystems.
  • Community engagement: programs that promote water stewardship and raise awareness about water quality issues.
  • Biodiversity enhancement: projects that support habitats and species dependent on clean water.

This funding is an important part of Ireland’s Water Action Plan, the roadmap to restore Ireland’s waterbodies to ‘good’ status or better, and to protect against further deterioration between 2023 and 2027. It aims to do this through an “integrated catchment management approach”, which means understanding the area, water uses, potential threats and bringing together science and communities.

Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD welcomed this announcement: “In response to increased demand from groups to carry out larger water quality and protection projects, I’m delighted to announce this year’s allocation of more than €850,000, up €300,000 on last year.   As well as promoting water stewardship and water quality, it enables local communities to play an active role in Ireland’s Water Action Plan.

For example, in Bantry funding of €25,250 will support an engagement officer for StreamScapes, who will raise awareness of water quality and equip groups with practical knowledge on how to protect it.”

A StreamScapes youth engagement event – the organisation is receiving €25,250 under the 2025 Catchment Support Fund.

Commenting on the 2025 fund, Director of Services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said: “We are proud to be able to support community groups in their efforts to protect and improve local water quality. It’s essential that community groups have the opportunity to develop, so they can continue to deliver impactful projects and drive positive change in our water quality for future generations.”

Check out the full list of winners.

Over €1m in Grants Awarded for Water Quality Projects Nationwide

 

On Tuesday, 25th of February 2025 the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality, is awarding €1,047,265.26 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, on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, LAWPRO has made over €3.7m available through this funding scheme to communities, assisting in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through Ireland’s Water Action Plan. The funding provided annually has also increased significantly during this period, from €185,800 in 2018 to over €1 million in 2025.

Types of projects approved for funding under this year’s open call include:

  • 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 TD welcomed this 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.”

Commenting on the 2025 fund, Director of Services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said: “I’m delighted to announce over €1m in grants under the Community Water Development Fund 2025, our largest fund 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.”

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. Whereas the Small Grants and Events Scheme allows community groups to apply for funding to cover small scale initiatives and events related to water quality.