5 September 2018
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton, has congratulated local groups on securing funding for environmental preservation projects.
As part of Fine Gael’s recent environment awareness campaign funding of €16,600 has been allocated to a variety of environmental initiatives in Cork East constituency:
· Ballyclough National School – €1,500
· Birdwatch Ireland (Cork Branch) – €2,500
· Castlelyons & Bridebridge Tidy Towns & Heritage Group – €3,000
· Clean Coasts Ballynamona – €2,500
· Cobh Youth Services – €500
· Cobh Zero Waste – €2,000
· Gaelscoil Chorain – €2,000
· Glanworth Community Council Ltd – €1,400
· Glounthaune Tidy Town – €1,000
· Scoil Mhuire Ballyhooly – €200
Funding is being allocated under the Local Agenda Environmental Partnership Fund which provides 50% of the funding with Cork County Council providing the remaining 50%. In addition, a further €72,990 will be allocated to 14 anti-dumping initiatives in Cork County.
Speaking upon confirmation of the funding, Minister Stanton said “Local community action is pivotal to tackling climate change and it must go hand in hand with Government investment to preserve our environment if we are to achieve long term tangible results.
“Our 10-year National Development Plan commits €21.8 billion to environmental protection actions which equates to €1 in every €5 of the Plan being spent on tackling climate change. Soon, the Department for Communications, Climate Action and Environment will begin accepting applications for a dedicated €500 million fund for projects that will decrease Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions and increase our use of sustainable energy.
“The Government has also launched a new micro generation scheme to support domestic customers who install solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels at home. Grant amounts for homeowners to install attic insulation, cavity wall insulation and/or internal wall insulation have also been increased so householders can save up to €600 per year on heating bills. Details are available at www.seai.ie/homeenergygrants. Once approved, homeowners have six months to get the works completed by a registered contractor and claim the grant.”
