North Cork Independent 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 2017 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.
Cllr. 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:
· Scoil Mhuire, Ballyhooly – Sustaining the School’s Organic Garden – €1,288
· Charleville CBS – Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print – €2,000
· Donal O’ Leary – Compost & Food Waste Training – €1,500
· Millstreet Tidy Towns – Claragh Loop Biodiversity Signage (Phase 2) – €1,230
· Glanworth Community Council – Glanworth Community Composter – €2,000
· Kiskeam Development Association – Biodiversity Garden – €2,500
· Ballyhoura Development CLG – Raising Awareness of Japenese Knotweed in North Cork – €750
· IRD Duhallow CLG – Wildflower Survey – €750
· Ballyhoura Beo – Biodiversity Awareness Campaign – €700
· Glantane Community Council – Swift Conservation – Nest Boxes – €384
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.
Cllr. 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”.
