€500k in funding welcomed

By Geraldine Fitzgerald

There was good news for three biodiversity initiatives recently.

The Irish Local Development Network has welcomed the allocation of more than €500,000 to members in Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

The Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) represents 49 local development companies throughout the country.

Following an open call for farm and community biodiversity initiatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, IRD Duhallow, Ballyhoura Development CLG and South Kerry Development Partnership were amongst 24 groups to receive a total of €3 million under the initiative.

Welcoming the funding ILDN Chair Jim Finn said: “Local Development Companies (LDCs) are becoming leaders in meeting the challenges of climate action and the promotion of biodiversity.”

Mr Finn continued: “The IRD Duhallow ‘Owentaraglin River European Innovation Partnership (EIP)’, the Ballyhoura Development CLG ‘Parish Habitats and Biodiversity project’ in Limerick as well as their ‘Deel Spatially Targeted EIP’ and the South Kerry Development Partnership ‘Kerry Eco-Social Farming Project’ are examples of LDCs working with Communities to deliver local results-based actions making a real difference to their environments.”

ILDN CEO Joe Saunders added: “Our three members have been granted over half a million euro under this call which is very welcome indeed.”

Mr Saunders added: “With 49 Local Development Companies in every Community nationwide we believe that LDCs can be to the forefront in delivering climate action and biodiversity projects as Government ramps up its ambitions in delivering on its climate targets, a community-led just transition is key to ensuring communities are drivers in the creation of an environmentally sustainable society and economy.”