Community groups in Waterford receive funding to support Water Quality Management projects

Two community groups in County Waterford are to receive grants totalling more than €5,000 to support their efforts to improve water quality.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), which is working to protect and restore good water quality in river catchments across the country, has awarding €5,000 to Tides and Tales Maritime Community Project and €480 to Friends of the River Clodiagh.

Overall, €856,260 in funding will be allocated to 40 community groups in 19 counties under the ‘Catchment Support Fund Open Call 2025’.

The scheme was 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.

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The 2025 allocation will help build the capacity of non-governmental organisations - in Waterford and across the country - focussed on water quality by providing funding to enable them to achieve their goals.

The funding, announced this Wednesday, 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 has welcomed the 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," he said.

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.”

Click here for more information and full details of the grants awarded.