Council Partners News

Funding to Local Authorities for Development of Playgrounds and Play Areas

By Ryan Harmon 7 April 2023

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, announced the recipients of this year’s Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. A total of €450,000 has been awarded to 29 Local Authorities. The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation supports the work of Local Authorities in improving access to quality play and […]

News Transport

RSA and Local Authorities Remind Landowners to Cut Hedgerows for Road Safety

By Ryan Harmon 31 January 2023

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) are calling on land-owners to cut their hedgerows before the March 1 deadline, to ensure they are not causing a potentially serious road safety hazard. Overgrown hedgerows and roadside verges can result in road fatalities and serious injury collisions. Properly maintained hedges […]

Council Partners News

Council Journal November Newsletter!

By Ryan Harmon 30 November 2022

Our Council Journal November Newsletter went out today, packed full of the best news stories for November from around Ireland! The Council Journal is a market leading information, intelligence and news resource that reports on Local Authorities & Government in Ireland. Be sure to follow us

Council Partners Environment News

How Local Authorities Can Address the Biodiversity Emergency

By Ryan Harmon 16 August 2022

A special conference is to take place in Limerick to discuss the Biodiversity Emergency and how the local authorities and the wider public service sectors and other key partners can help mitigate some of the issues. ‘How Local Authorities Can Address the Biodiversity Emergency’ is being held on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd September 2022 at […]

Council Partners Financial News

Funding for Local Authorities to Purchase Vacant Buildings for Community Use

By Ryan Harmon 30 May 2022

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced a new funding stream to support Local Authorities to purchase vacant buildings which can be converted and developed for community use. The funding, which is being made available under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, aims to support the continued regeneration of our rural […]

Council Partners News

Well Prepared Planning Applications Vital in Avoiding Delays

By Ryan Harmon 6 May 2022

In order to improve efficiency in the planning process, local authorities applicants and agents need to work together to ensure that planning applications are valid on receipt, a report by the Office of the Planning Regulator, (OPR) has said. The report notes that it is critical to get it right from the outset so particular […]

History News

€4m in Funding for 78 Built Heritage Projects Under Historic Structures Fund 2022

By Ryan Harmon 1 April 2022

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, has announced that 78 heritage projects across the country will benefit from a total of €4 million under this year’s Historic Structures Fund (HSF) administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in conjunction with the 31 Local Authorities. In addition to supporting […]

Culture News

€6.6m in 2022 for Creative Ireland Local Authority Projects

By Ryan Harmon 20 January 2022

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, have announced funding of €6.6 million for the 2022 Creative Ireland Projects Creative Communities initiative. This partnership between the departments and all 31 local authorities is being enabled

Council Partners Education Environment News

Appeal to Homes and Businesses to Prepare for Freezing Weather and Conserve Water

By Ryan Harmon 19 January 2022

Irish Water and Local Authorities are asking homes and businesses to take some simple steps to avoid damage to their pipes and help conserve water during the freezing weather. Freezing conditions can lead to a higher than normal volume of burst pipes. A burst pipe can cause severe damage in the home, while also leading […]

Council Partners Culture News

€2m Funding for Local Authorities in 2022 Under Decade of Centenaries Programme

By Ryan Harmon 5 January 2022

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced funding of €2 million for local authorities in 2022 to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries Programme. €50,000 will be allocated to every local authority to support their […]

Housing News

Bill to Restore Decision-Making on Large-Scale Housing Developments to Local Authorities Approved

By Ryan Harmon 5 November 2021

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has received Government approval for the publication of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 to restore decision-making on large-scale housing developments to local authorities. As set out in Housing for All, the Government’s far-reaching plan to

Business Council Partners Health News

Local Authorities Improved Performance While Mounting Covid-19 Response

By Ryan Harmon 1 October 2021

Local authorities improved their performance across a range of indicators during 2020, despite Covid-19 challenges and while providing additional innovations and services during the pandemic. The NOAC Local Authority Performance Indicator Report 2020 shows local authorities made advances last year, in particular in the areas of housing, business supports, and online

Environment News

Dublin Local Authorities Jointly Launch Dublin’s First Climate Action Week

By Ryan Harmon 16 June 2021

The first Dublin Climate Action Week (#DCAW21), will take place from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th September 2021, and is being planned to demonstrate the ongoing efforts, ambitions, and the collaborative approach of the four Dublin local authorities in addressing climate action. The week is being organised and delivered by the partnership of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown […]

Council Partners News Tourism

Westmeath Tourism Strategy 2021-2027

By Jack Mullen 10 May 2021

Westmeath County Council Press Release 10-05-21 Westmeath County Council are preparing a new Tourism Strategy, which will guide and inform tourism development in County Westmeath from 2021-2027. You are invited to make submissions and proposals which will help to shape the new Tourism Strategy. Click here for more information on this consultation process and how to have

Health Housing News

Ministers approve over €23m in funding for the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme & Improvement Works in Lieu of Local Authority Housing Scheme

By Jack Mullen 7 May 2021

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and the Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government Peter Burke TD have today (7 May) approved funding of more than €23m million for the Disabled Persons Grant scheme (DPG) and Improvement Works In Lieu of social housing scheme (IWILs). Every […]

Business Environment Feature News Transport

Minister Ryan announces opening of new €15 million ‘Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund

By Jack Mullen 26 April 2021

Picture above: Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D. Image courtesy of Twitter via @EamonRyan Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D. has today announced the opening of a new €15 million ‘Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund’ to help ensure a Safe Outdoor Summer. The funding will support local authorities in enhancing outdoor urban space and improving walking […]

Business Culture Environment News Tourism

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphrey’s announces 24 landmark rural regeneration projects nationwide

By Jack Mullen 19 April 2021

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced €75 million for 24 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country. The funding, which is being provided under the €1Billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will support the key objectives of Our Rural Future – the Government’s ambitious new

Business Council Partners News Podcasts Technology

Q&A with Addjust CEO Padraig Neylon

By Jack Mullen 31 March 2021

In this weeks discussion we spoke to Padraig Neylon who is the CEO and Co-founder of Addjust. Addjust is a software solutions company that offers supports to the construction industry, local authorities, project managers, software engineers and many many more. In this podcast, Padraig along with our Council editor, Jack Mullen, spoke about a variety of different, yet […]

Environment Financial News

Important Local Authority Announcement – Public Consultation on the redesign of Ireland’s Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme

By Jack Mullen 4 March 2021

Under the current Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme, energy suppliers must support energy efficiency projects in businesses and homes across Ireland. Image Courtesy of SEAI.ie Gov.ie Press Release: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Published on 04 March 2021 The European Commission’s Clean Energy Package, launched in November 2016, sets

Business Environment News

€1.35 million to be made available for local authorities – Biodiversity Grant Scheme

By Jack Mullen 3 March 2021

Picture above: Malcolm Noonan. Image courtesy of Twitter Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has today, World Wildlife Day (March 3rd 2021), announced that over €1.35 million will be made available to local authorities in the Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme for projects which tackle Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and […]