Local communities clean up with environment funding “€40,250 being made available to 40 projects”
Community environmental projects have cleaned up by securing €40,250 in funding from the Government and South Dublin County Council, according to Independent Minister Katherine Zappone. The projects being supported include improvements to school gardens, better green areas and awareness campaigns. Minister Zappone says communities in South and West Dublin have been hugely successful in securing the funding and now it must be turned into positive action for the benefit of all.
Minister Zappone added: “Whether protecting and supporting the local bee population, cleaning up green areas and better school gardens the successful projects will make our communities better places to live. It is a tribute to local volunteers that 40 projects in the South Dublin County Council area have received funding – with half the money coming from Central Government and the rest coming from the local authority. The projects involved may be small in scale but their impact will be very important. Each will create awareness that if we are serious about tackling the big environmental challenges of our time that the first steps must be taken at home and in the community.
In Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Citywest as well as Lucan and Clondalkin we are very fortunate to have plenty local streams, major rivers as well as countryside and mountains on our doorstep.
In addition the council has provided big green areas. We must never take these for granted and we must at all times protect and pre-serve them. The range of projects shows that there is an awareness about the need to act and protect nature. It is my hope that this funding will be made available immediately so that our communities will benefit as soon as possible. I remain in contact with my fellow Independent Minister Denis Naughten who is responsible for Ireland’s response to climate change and will encourage him to continue support for communities in South Dublin County Council into the future.”
