I welcome confirmation of grants of between €1,000 and €4,000 to 23 Tidy Towns groups across County Laois and 22 groups across Offaly. Groups who entered the SuperValu TidyTowns competition in 2021 or 2022 will be eligible to apply for the funding.
From this week Tidy Towns Groups across the two counties are receiving details of the grant they are eligible for and details of how to apply. Portlaoise Tidy Towns is eligible for €4,000, with Portarlington eligible for €3,000. Stradbally, Durrow, Abbeyleix, Mountrath and Mountmellick are eligible for €2,000 with all other Laois groups offered €1,000.
Tullamore and Edenderry are eligible for €3,000, the four groups of Banagher, Birr, Ferbane and Daingean for €2,000 and all others in County Offaly are eligible for €1,000.
Groups are encouraged to use the funding to look at projects for their green spaces and parks, and projects that promote biodiversity and sustainable living.
We mustn’t underestimate the value of our Tidy Towns groups in our fight against biodiversity decline: They are helping to create habitat and ecosystems through direct action and also do a large body of work, indirectly, by raising awareness of what is happening in our natural world. Add all of the small steps together and we build a pathway towards protection of our living heritage.
Today’s announcement of Tidy Towns Groups funding is a follow through on the commitment of €1.4 million in funding given by Minister Humphreys at the awards ceremony in October. Applications for funding must be returned to Pobal no later than February 28th 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. All projects and initiatives funded through this support must be completed by July 31st, 2023.
List of tidy towns groups by county here https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c47d6-our-rural-future-minister-humphreys-announces-details-of-14-million-in-funding-for-tidytowns-groups/