North Tipp community groups receiving important funding from water protection organisation

A MEMBER of LAWPRO (the Local Authority Waters Programme) gave a very detailed update on their work during a recent meeting of Nenagh Municipal District.
She began by telling the meeting that a new Community Water Officer for Tipperary, Darragh Kelly, has been appointed. He is based in Clonmel and can be contacted at (085) 8333383 or darragh.kelly@lawaters.ie. “Groups can contact Darragh about anything to do with rivers and streams in their areas.”
She pointed out that LAWPRO continues to provide funding to community and catchment groups under three different schemes: the Community Water Development Fund, Catchment Support Fund and Small Grants and Events.
The Community Water Development Fund (CWDF) 2026 welcomes applications from organisations who are planning projects that fall into the following categories: river restoration, urban or rural Nature-based Solutions, feasibility studies, blue dot catchments, and fish habitat enhancement. The minimum grant awarded is €5,000 and the medium size is €5,000 to €25,000. The maximum grant award is between €25,000 to €40,000.
The Catchment Support Fund 2026 will build the capacity of community groups to grow and develop and assist in the delivery of the River Basin Management Plan. Funding ranges from €500-€5,000 and up to €50,000. Cabragh Wetlands near Thurles was a recipient in 2024 and 2025 and LAWPRO continue to “support Cabragh Wetlands to develop into a catchment scale organisation,” the officer said.
The Small Grant and Events Scheme is for community groups who wish to apply for funding for small scale initiatives and events. It covers events such as World Wetlands Day, Biodiversity Week, Science Week, etc. It may also be used for small awareness raising initiatives such as surveys and plans, citizen science, hosting a meeting, workshops, litter pick, publications, biodiversity signage, or other such small scale initiatives.
The officer said LAWPRO is working to identify the issues affecting water quality in every county in Ireland. “Where issues are identified, we collaborate with the relevant local authority, public body, and water stakeholder to find a solution. Community engagement is the cornerstone of this approach to combine local and expert knowledge for a better understanding of what’s happening in a local catchment and water body.”
She said the €60m nationwide Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project is a partnership led by LAWPRO, with Teagasc and Dairy Industry Ireland. This project links advisors to farmers; the advisors conduct assessments, and submit funding applications on the farmers' behalf to help improve water quality.

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“To date 345 applications in County Tipperary have been received and we will continue to support local farmers to implement measures on their farms and to draw down funding. The total payments made for Tipperary Applications is €231,732.56.”
A new national Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Fund will be launched in early 2026, supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by LAWPRO. This fund is in response to and builds on the work LAWPRO has undertaken with colleagues in Local Authorities, including the Town Centre First and Regeneration Teams. Potential projects could include footpath upgrades or kerb build outs, car parks and projects complimentary to Active Travel, housing or regeneration projects, which incorporate NbS elements that will deliver water quality benefits.
The average anticipated funding amount for 2026 is €100,000 per Local Authority. (Pictured below is an example of urban improvement work funded by LAWPRO - a completed retrofit rain garden project in Kickham St Car Park Clonmel. Rain gardens reduce local flooding by absorbing up to 30% more water than lawns, while filtering pollutants like heavy metals and oil).

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