Deadline looms for groups seeking grant-aid from Offaly wind farm fund

APPLICANTS have less than three weeks to seek financial aid under Bord na Mona's Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

The fund is in its third year and the deadline for applications in the current round is July 15 next at 5pm.

Bord na Mona says the fund will distribute €150,000 to community and voluntary groups, non-profit groups, clubs and societies, or organisations with a charitable status towards community-based projects and initiatives which aim to deliver community good and services within 10km of the wind farm and that support the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Funding will be given out under three strands: small initiatives - €1,000-€10,000; large initiatives - €10,001-€25,000; multi-annual funding - €25,001-plus (over one to eight years).

Edenderry-based Fine Gael representative Cllr Noel Cribbin is on the fund committee.

Applications under the Mountlucas wind farm community gains scheme have closed and Bord na Mona is reviewing the applications.

The 2025 fund value for the Mountlucas Wind Farm Community Gain Scheme is €101,824.59.

Bord na Móna said at the end of last year the total investment provided by the combined community benefit funds at Mountlucas and Cloncreen over the previous 10 years was over €2 million.

The funding supported 327 community projects in Edenderry, Clonbullogue, Ballyfore, Daingean, Mountlucas and Walsh Island and provided annual electricity contribution to 270 households through its Near Neighbour Schemes.

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In 2024 alone, the Mountlucas and Cloncreen schemes provided over €250,000 in funding for 41 local community projects.

Meanwhile, in west Offaly, Bord na Mona is consulting the public about a community benefit fund associated with one of its newest ventures, the Derrinlough wind farm. Details are on the Bord na Mona website and the deadline for public responses is July 15.