Cork County Mayor Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea this week warmly welcomed the allocation of financial assistance to community and voluntary groups within County Cork as part of the 2015 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund scheme.
The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which has operated since 1997, promotes sustainable development by assisting small-scale environmental projects at local level. These projects involve partnership arrangements between local authorities and various local groups including community groups, schools and environmental non government organisations.
Mayor O’ Shea said “The scheme has been a wonderful success over the years in Cork and is designed to help increase local levels of environmental awareness and help local communities become more sustainable”. Some of the successful community groups within County Cork who will carry out various environmental projects as a result of this cash injection include:
- Irish Heritage Trust, Continue Fota House & Gardens policy of promoting awareness of environment €2,000
- Lombardstown Community Council, To enhance the eco system and natural features of the area €1,000
- Cork Environmental Forum, CEF Local Agenda 21 programme for Cork €8,000
- Ballycotton Development Company Ltd, Teach primary school children how to grow, maintain & harvest their own vegetables & fruit €300
- Edward Cook, Furthering community environmental education €1,000
- Community Garden Kildorrery, Repair/Recycling the Polythenr on the Poly tunnel in the community garden €750
- Kildorrery Community Development Ltd, Dedicate one area of upcoming Village Park for composting €770
- Mark O’Donovan, Raise awareness of local environment, help people connect and notice their local environment €300
- Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Provide workshop on Biodiversity, Water, Energy, Waste Minimisation €500
- Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, “Day of Action” is essential component in Green-Schools 7 step environmental management programme. Energy Day being planned €1,000
- Farran Action Community Team, Bring enjoyment & education to children & community by developing natural & sustainable garden within school €1,500
- Castlelyons/Bridesbridge Tidy Towns & Heritage Group, Develop understanding of biodiversity in Castlelyons €1,000
- Upper Glanmire Community Association, Enhance appearance, biodiversity of local area. Maintain atmosphere of a rural place & model good organic practice in community €2,000
- Coomhola Borlin Community Assoc, Promote Enhancement & Pride in Local Community Areas €1,500
- Cork Nature Network Ltd, Information sharing & awareness raising on importance of protecting & conserving wildlife & habitats €800
- Stag Park Community House, Helping the families of Stag Park become more healthy as part of our healthy community initiative by growing our own €1,500
- Amawale, Linking Irish & South African schools through Development Education and Civil Society projects €1,000
- Eyeries Tidy Towns Committee, To create awareness of the biodiversity to be found on the existing loop walk based in Eyeries Village €250
- Carrigtwohill Community Council Ireland, Planting of trees and hedging/shrubs with a view to encouraging bio diversity €1,000
- Birdwatch Ireland, to inspire, motivate & equip people with the information and expertise to protect & encourage bird life in towns €1,000
- Timeline Projects Ltd, to promote waste awareness prevention in Primary Schools €1,600
- Adrigole Greener Living Community Action Group, Increase awareness around impact of consumerism on the environment €1,200
- Ladysbridge Tidy Towns Committee, Raise awareness of biodiversity in village by landscaping of riverstream bank €1,200
- Youghal Tidy Towns, To raise awareness & knowledge of biodiversity & flora/fauna in area €2,000
- Midleton Tidy Towns, To make available further indoor/outdoor growing facilities for schools/communities for veg & fruit €2,000
- Glounthaune Mens Shed, Using harvested rainwater to service Glounthaune flower displays €1,500
- Kildorrey Tidy Towns Group, Harvest rainwater from 2 buildings owned by the community for use in planted areas in the village €1,500
- Croi na Laoi development society, Enhancement of appearance of Inchigeela village €1,000
- Coomhola Salmon Trust, Develop public engagement on water quality & wildlife issues €1,500
- Community Radio Youghal, Develop introductory on line course on sustainable development €1,000
- Inchageela Tidy Towns, Provide wildlife information boards €1,800
- Tunnel Vision, Establish mother Willow Bed on community site & deliver workshops on Willow €1,500
- Coolagowan Development Group, To provide cost effective environmentally friendly soft water in Coolagowan €2,000
- Donal O’Leary, Composting & Food waste training in County Cork €1,000
- Millstreet Tidy Towns & Tourism Association, To supply Millstreet Tidy Towns with a source of irrigation water €1,000
- Dunmanway Family Resource Centre Ltd, Set up onsite wormery & Bokashi in vessel composting system in community garden for use as demonstration site €1,000
- Bandon Allotments, Delivery of 8 week gardening course €1,000
- Carrigaline Tidy Towns, Create area of Horticultural beauty for residents & visitors to Carrigaline & surrounding areas €1,500
- Cobh Youth Services Ltd, Food waste challenge €900
- Bandon Tidy Towns, Creative dog fouling signage & tyre recycle project €1,000
- Ballincurrig Tidy Village Group, Planting of native trees, plants flowers €1,500
Successful projects will support and compliment, at local level, national environmental policies such as those on Waste, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Air, Water and Sustainable Development. The fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects. Funding is provided by the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government and matched by Cork County Council.
The projects highlight both the broad ranging efforts being made across Cork communities to generate involvement, and buy in, to the diverse, and highly creative, efforts in implementing innovative and effective environmental changes. They are both educational and practical and afford opportunities for participation at every level in the local community to get involved and make that change.
Mayor O’ Shea added “This fund shows how local initiatives can make a real difference in our communities, and showcases how small changes can make lasting improvements in our environment. A wide variety of projects and schemes have already been supported under this Fund in previous years including, community gardens, allotments and compost schemes, rainwater harvesting schemes, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions”.
