Wednesday, 9th April 2025: Today 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.”
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.”
It follows the announcement in February that LAWPRO awarded over €1million in grants under the Community Water Development Fund to support community groups to undertake projects to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water.
Further funding is available through LAWPRO’s Small Grants and Events Scheme, which allows community groups to apply for support to cover small scale initiatives and events related to water quality.
For full details of grants awarded and more information on the work of LAWPRO visit: www.lawaters.ie
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Water Quality Improvements and Public Benefits
LAWPRO’s work has led to significant improvements in water quality, benefiting both the environment and the public. Cleaner water supports biodiversity, enhances recreational opportunities, and ensures a sustainable water supply for communities. By empowering local groups to take action, LAWPRO fosters a culture of water stewardship, ensuring that Ireland’s water resources are protected for future generations.
About the Catchment Support Fund
The Catchment Support Fund is designed to strengthen non-governmental organisations working in water quality management. It provides financial support for core costs such as staff salaries, insurance, legal fees, website maintenance, and promotional materials. The fund is divided into two streams: organisational funding (Stream 1) and core funding (Stream 2). This year’s funding builds on the success of the 2024 initiative, which awarded over €500,000 to 37 organisations.
For media information:
Sadhbh O’Neill
Communications & Engagement Lead
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
T: 085 850 0409
Notes to the editors
Full list of awards:
| Organisation name | Funding Type: Core/Organisational | County | Region | Grant |
| Sligo Bay Catchment River Trust CLG (SBCRT CLG) | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Sligo | Border | €9,455.70 |
| Oriel River Catchments and Coastal Association | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Louth | Border | €16,384.89 |
| Deele Community Anglers | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Donegal | Border | €45,323.18 |
| Drumhome Living Rivers Conservation Group | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Donegal | Border | €9,233.24 |
| Cloughaneely Angling Association | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Donegal | Border | €3,403.00 |
| Inishowen Rivers Trust | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Donegal | Border | €46,193.00 |
| The Mill River Conservation Group Buncrana | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Donegal | Border | €2,699.72 |
| River Blackwater Catchment Trust | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2 | Monaghan | Border | €32,954.15 |
| West Cavan Bogs Association (WCBA) | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Cavan | Border | €400.00 |
| Friends of Castle Lake Catchment | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Cavan | Border | €400.00 |
| East Wicklow Rivers Trust CLG | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Wicklow | Midlands and East | €41,600.00 |
| Liffey Salmon Project | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Dublin | Midlands and East | €3,088.65 |
| Boyne Rivers Trust | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Meath | Midlands and East | €51,800.00 |
| Wicklow Uplands Council | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Wicklow | Midlands and East | €46,000.00 |
| Lough Ennell Catchment Association | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Westmeath | Midlands and East | €5,000.00 |
| Dodder Action CLG | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Dublin | Midlands and East | €4,493.65 |
| Clara Heritage Society | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Offaly | Midlands and East | €4,897.50 |
| The Rivers Trust | Core Funding (Stream 2) | Dublin | National | €75,000.00 |
| Tides and Tales Maritime Community Project | Organisational Funding (Stream 1 | Waterford | South East | €5,000.00 |
| Nore River Catchment Trust | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Kilkenny | South East | €50,379.35 |
| Drummin Bog Project CLG | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Kilkenny | South East | €9,608.00 |
| Friends of the River Clodiagh | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Waterford | South East | €480.00 |
| The Acorn Project | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Kilkenny | South East | €22,283.75 |
| Restore Ballymacraven River Association CLG (Company No 753769) | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Clare | South West | €51,036.00 |
| Cabragh Wetlands Centre CLG | Core Funding (Stream 2) | Tipperary | South East | €32,957.74 |
| Cork River Alliance Group | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Cork | South West | €500.00 |
| Castleconnell River Association CLG | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Limerick | South West | €44,355.00 |
| Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Clare | South West | €26,813.00 |
| Shannon Town Community Wetlands | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Clare | South West | €4,865.00 |
| Maigue Rivers Trust | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Limerick | South West | €6,950.00 |
| Lough Atorick Catchment Management Association (LACMA) | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Galway | West | €4,200.00 |
| Friends of the Dripsey Rivers | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Cork | South West | €500.00 |
| StreamScapes CLG | Core Funding (Stream 2) | Cork | South West | €25,250.00 |
| Knocknagoshel Environmental and Angling Association | Core Funding (Stream 2) | Kerry | South West | €24,670.00 |
| CUAN BEO ENVIRONMENTAL CLG | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Galway | West | €5,263.30 |
| CALL Climate Action Louisburgh Locality | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Mayo | West | €32,700.00 |
| Lough Carra Catchment Association | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Mayo | West | €51,118.16 |
| Cairde an Chláir | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Galway | West | €1,586.59 |
| Corrib Beo | Core Funding & Organisational Funding (Stream 1 & Stream 2) | Galway | West | €51,600.00 |
| Abhainn Dá Loilíoch Woodland Group | Organisational Funding (Stream 1) | Galway | West | €5,817.00 |
| TOTAL FUNDING | €856,259.57 |
About Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) www.lawaters.ie
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. LAWPRO was established to fulfil requirements under the European Union Water Framework Directive and is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LAWPRO coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan.