Deadline: 24-Oct-2025
The Environment and Climate Action Grant 2026 invites local groups to lead projects that enhance and protect their shared surroundings.
Residents’ Associations, Tidy Towns, Tidy Districts, and Estate Management Groups are eligible to apply for funding up to €800, with the grant covering up to 70% of the project cost; applicants must secure the remaining 30% from their own funds.
Projects must benefit the public realm and be located within a community or local area. If the proposal involves public land or is adjacent to roadways, applicants must submit detailed plans and obtain prior written approval from the relevant Dún Laoghaire‑Rathdown (dlr) departments—such as Parks or Traffic—to ensure safety, compliance, and proper coordination with local infrastructure.
Proposals may include planting trees or shrubs in public spaces, installing estate name stones, organizing environmental talks, climate action workshops, or campaigns like litter prevention, and purchasing non-mechanised equipment (for example gloves, shovels, trowels) to support planting efforts. Projects may combine some of these elements to create more impactful outcomes.
However, certain costs are ineligible for support. Hiring contractors (e.g. landscapers or arborists), paying general estate management fees, or hiring skips are excluded. The grant is intended to support hands-on community-led actions rather than outsourced or large-scale operations.
When assessing applications, the grant committee evaluates proposed projects on criteria including the environmental benefits (such as promoting biodiversity and sustainability), the overall impact and outcomes, feasibility and sustainability of planning, and the degree of community engagement involved. The number of households or population served will also factor into the scoring.
This grant offers a meaningful opportunity for community groups to take ownership of environmental improvements in their neighbourhoods, fostering greater engagement, awareness, and action around climate and sustainability at the grassroots level.
For more information, visit Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
