The community climate action programme is a new programme that will be launched by Kerry County Council in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

The programme supports small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action at a local level.

Its goal is to shape and build low-carbon, sustainable communities that will contribute to achieving Ireland’s national climate action and energy targets.

The Community Climate Action Programme will help to make Kerry a more resilient county to the impacts of climate change and in doing so will make it a better place to live.

The fund is divided into two strands:

Strand-1 – Action: Building Low Carbon Communities: Kerry County Council have been given an allocation of €663,000 for projects under Strand 1. Under this scheme, communities will partner with Kerry County Council to carry out projects that have a direct climate action impact.

Strand 1a – Shared Island Community Climate Action: This strand enables communities to carry out a cross-border project in partnership with a community in Northern Ireland.  This is a very competitive fund (€3 million for the whole country) and its open for all communities to apply.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will the programme work?

Kerry County Council in conjunction with the Department will select a number of projects that demonstrate climate action at a local level in Kerry. Projects must deliver a direct positive impact on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or helping communities adapt to the consequences of climate change or assisting communities transition to a low carbon and sustainable economy.

 

Who can apply?

Eligible community organisations must be the following:

• Be not-for-profit
• Be located within the boundaries of County Kerry
• Submit a completed application form
• Be registered with the Kerry PPN ORbe connected with other collectives such as The Wheel, Tidy Towns, OR be a community group with Articles of Association, which hold an AGM with appropriately approved minutes.

Who can’t apply?

• Private individuals
• Commercial undertakings (including sole traders)
• National community and environmental organisations
• Schools
• Credit Unions or other financial institutions

 

What projects are eligible?
Projects must demonstrate the delivery of national climate action at a local level for strand 1 and on a cross-border basis on the island of Ireland for strand 1a. Projects should address at least one, but preferably more than one of the following themes:

• Community and energy
• Sustainable Travel
• Food and waste
• Shopping and recycling
• Local climate and environmental action

 

What funding is available?

The Community Climate Action Programme grants can fund up to 100% of all eligible costs for a successful project.

You can apply for different sized grants:

• Small scale projects, less than €20,000
• Medium scale projects, €21,000 to €50,000
• Large scale projects, €51,000 to €100,000

 

How does my community groups apply?

If you are thinking of applying for the fund, or if you have any questions, please get in contact with Richard Curtin at [email protected] or 087 4821657. Richard is the Community Climate Action Officer with Kerry County Council. To apply our online application form is hosted at https://consult.kerrycoco.ie/en/applications. Applications for funding open at 9 am on the 13^th of December and they will close on the 6^th of March at 5 pm. There are application forms available in Irish, if you require these please get in contact with Richard Curtin on [email protected].

Documents and Resources

1. Guidance document for application
2. General guide on how to apply for funding
3. General guide on how to deliver community projects
4. Case studies of community climate action projects