Minister O’Brien announces recipients of €29.5 million for successful Community Climate Projects21/5/2026
Second phase of Community Climate Action Programme will drive local climate action First phase already supported 650 nationwide projects, with funding of €27 million Additional funding of €2.6 million secured for Reserve Projects At a launch event in Cherry Orchard Football Club today, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, has announced the successful projects awarded funding under Phase 2 of the Community Climate Action Programme, alongside an additional €2.6 million in funding to support further high-quality projects from local authority reserve lists. The announcement forms part of the Government’s continued investment in community-led climate action through the Climate Action Fund (CAF), with almost €27 million (over €26.9 million) being made available to local authorities to support communities in building low-carbon, sustainable futures. The newly announced and additional €2.6 million allocation will enable additional large projects, identified by local authorities through reserve lists, to proceed in the coming months. Successful projects under this additional funding stream will be communicated to local authorities today. Announcing the funding, Minister O’Brien said: “Communities across Ireland are leading the way in climate action, delivering practical projects that reduce emissions, strengthen local resilience and improve quality of life. I am delighted to announce the successful projects under this latest phase of the Community Climate Action Programme, and to provide a further €2.6 million to ensure even more of these ambitious community projects can move forward. “This programme empowers communities to take meaningful local action on climate change, while also contributing to our national climate and energy goals. The scale of interest and quality of applications received demonstrates the commitment of communities nationwide to building a cleaner, more sustainable future.” Community climate action – ‘learning by doing’: The Community Climate Action Programme supports projects and initiatives that facilitate community climate action through education, capacity building and ‘learning by doing’. Projects funded under Phase 1 of the programme: Phase 1 of the programme has supported approximately 650 community climate action projects nationwide through funding of €24 million. Projects funded under the programme have delivered a wide range of benefits for communities, including reduced energy costs, enhanced biodiversity, wildlife restoration, improved local amenities and stronger community engagement. Ambition for Phase 2: Phase 2 of the programme will see local authorities continue partnering directly with community groups to deliver projects that contribute to Ireland’s climate and energy targets, while supporting communities to scale up local climate action initiatives. Projects supported under the programme address five key themes:
The programme is administered through the network of Community Climate Action Officers (CCAOs) in local authorities, who provide guidance, support and practical assistance to communities – seeking to become lower-carbon and more sustainable. The list of successful projects is available at this link: CCAP Details on the Phase 2 (Strand 1) funding allocated to each of the local authorities: Confirmed figures. Local Authority Local Authority Original Allocation Carlow County Council € 381,068.08 Cavan County Council € 489,000.00 Clare County Council € 649,000.00 Cork City Council € 967,058.00 Cork County Council € 1,394,574.92 Donegal County Council € 772,250.00 Dublin City Council € 2,177,296.00 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council € 993,011.00 Fingal County Council € 1,303,699.85 Galway City Council € 500,550.90 Galway County Council € 858,575.72 Kerry County Council € 739,226.58 Kildare County Council € 991,941.63 Kilkenny County Council € 577,659.00 Laois County Council € 519,164.27 Leitrim County Council € 343,999.00 Limerick City & County Council € 887,575.89 Longford County Council € 333,781.00 Louth County Council € 592,824.10 Mayo County Council € 678,568.33 Meath County Council € 910,459.72 Monaghan County Council € 437,892.90 Offaly County Council € 501,831.35 Roscommon County Council € 473,508.16 Sligo County Council € 455,518.00 South Dublin County Council € 455,518.00 Tipperary County Council € 806,151.45 Waterford City and County Council € 631,218.95 Westmeath County Council € 542,378.89 Wexford County Council € 746,066.50 Wicklow County Council € 766,469.36 Earlier this year, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien announced a range of new and expanded measures under the New Residential Retrofitting Plan.
These new measures included:
Minister O’Brien commented: “I am delighted to announce the new grant rates for Approved Housing Bodies and households at risk of energy poverty participating in Community upgrade projects. In the Programme for Government we committed to take decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes – as part of our drive to support energy affordability, security, and sustainability. “In the first quarter of the year, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) data shows a very positive upward trend with clear evidence of growth in both demand and output. The retrofit sector is mobilising and responding to the growing interest in energy upgrades underpinned by SEAI grant support. Applications to SEAI for individual home energy upgrades are up 186% on Q1 2025, and overall applications are up 96%. “The National Energy Affordability Taskforce, will identify, assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households. This work includes examining how to support increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades and continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.” CEO of the SEAI William Walsh said: “These increased grants to Approved Housing Bodies and private, energy poor homes taking part in our community grant scheme, will make a big difference to those that need it most, giving them more control and security over their energy costs. This is how we reduce bills in the long-term — by breaking the link between the costs of running a household and volatile international fossil fuel markets. At SEAI we are here to help, no matter what stage a person is at. I really welcome the Minister's announcement today, which further adds to what is already available to help our most vulnerable.” The new grant rates being made available today will support Approved Housing Bodies to upgrade some of their worst performing homes and switch to heat pumps. It will also support the upgrade of more multi-unit developments in Approved Housing Body ownership. New National Residential Retrofit Plan The new National Residential Retrofit Plan (2026) was launched in January. It phased in a range new, more affordable measures. Applications to SEAI so far in 2026 (year-on-year) have doubled. Over 29,000 applications were processed between January and March. These applications included:
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, have confirmed that the Road Transporters Support Scheme will open tomorrow (Wednesday 20 May) for applications.
The RTSS was announced by Government last month and supports the road transport sector in recognition of its essential role in Ireland’s supply chains, for businesses and in providing essential connectivity across both urban and rural communities. The Scheme provides financial support to licenced hauliers, the own account sector, and commercial coach operators to help meet the challenges posed by increased fuel costs arising from the war in the Middle East. Minister O’Brien said: “I am pleased to announce that the application portal for the Road Transporters Support Scheme will open on the Department of Transport’s website at 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday 20 May. The application form will be accessible until 12 noon on Friday 12 June. I urge you to submit your application as soon as possible.” Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney said: “The last few weeks have been challenging for the haulage and coach sector. The RTSS will support hauliers and transport operators to face these challenges and continue to play their vital role in our economy. In recognition of this, we have made the application process as simple as possible for applicants.” The Scheme will be administered by the Department of Transport and the application form will be accessible on the Department’s website tomorrow. Full details of the terms and conditions, State Aid rules, and data processing requirements will also be provided at the time of the application system going live. Notes to the Editor The Scheme will open for applications at 12 noon on Wednesday 20 May. The portal for applications will be on the Department of Transport’s website www.gov.ie/transport and will go live at that time. It will remain open until 12 noon on Friday 12 June 2026. Payments will be made based on the number of vehicles owned by qualifying operators. Payment Vehicles Band €1,350 per vehicle up to and including 5 vehicles per operator €790 per vehicle for vehicles 6 to 20 per operator €300 per vehicle €300 per vehicle for vehicles 21+ Full eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, and information on State Aid rules will also be published at the same time. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that they provide all the required information to process their application. Failure to do so will result in applicants being excluded from the Scheme. Regulations will bring clear, predictable cost framework for applicants taking judicial reviews and public bodies paying costs
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers have today signed regulations to give effect to introducing a scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews. These regulations were provided for in Section 294 of the Planning and Development Act which was passed by the Oireachtas in 2024. Up to this point, if a judicial review was taken on environmental law grounds, where the review was upheld, a public body was liable for legal costs of the successful applicant. This brought about unpredictable costs for the taxpayer and often negative environmental outcomes, such as the stalling of renewable energy projects. The regulations identify the type of judicial review proceedings to which they apply and specify a scale of costs to be awarded to applicants, subject to judicial discretion for a successful applicant. The regulations do not limit access to justice or constrain the right of individuals or communities to challenge decisions, which remains a central part of our planning process. Minister O’Brien said: “Ireland has a strong record in Europe for compliance with environmental law, and that won’t change. Introducing manageable and predictable legal costs ensures a streamlined system that balances environmental concerns with the greater public good. This makes the system more practical and can also support positive environmental outcomes. This includes the renewable energy development we so badly need to offset the volatility of imported fossil fuel costs.” Minister Chambers said: “The implementation of this regulation is a critical element of the reforms agreed by Government in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. Specifically, it creates a clear, predictable cost framework, replacing a system that is uncertain, inconsistent and costly. It does so while ensuring that successful applicants still recover their costs under a transparent scale of fees, preserving access to justice. This will support infrastructure delivery, including that infrastructure we need to improve environmental outcomes.” Following a public consultation on the proposed cost framework, changes introduced into the regulations include a different fee breakdown for standard, complex and very complex cases, and a new section to reflect a fee structure where the case is broken down into several modules. The regulations will come into effect on Monday, 18 May 2026. The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien today brought a Memo to Cabinet on the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT). Minister O’Brien provided Government with an update on the taskforce’s expanded scope, governance structures, and key deliverables as it works to address the energy affordability challenges arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The memo outlines the taskforce’s intensified response to the energy shock resulting from the conflict and sets out an overview of the current security of supply situation. Ireland’s fuel supply chains remain robust and reliable. However, global energy prices remain highly volatile, and the ongoing conflict continues to put significant upward pressure on energy costs for households and businesses. The NEAT is working intensively on an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in Q3 (2026). This Action Plan will be focused on short, medium and longer-term measures to support households and businesses – to meet their energy costs, and will be built around four key pillars:
This work is being supported by structured engagement with relevant external stakeholders. An initial engagement with the Community and Voluntary Pillar – including representatives from the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Age Action, Irish Rural Link, the National Women’s Council, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Environmental Pillar – took place last week. Minister O’Brien said: “The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is driving energy prices in the wrong direction for households and businesses across Ireland. I am very conscious of the real pressure this is placing on families trying to manage household bills and on business trying to keep their costs under control. The Government is taking action; we have already introduced €755 million in supports – including reductions in excise on fuel, the deferral of the carbon tax increase, an extended Fuel Allowance season, and enhanced supports for our hauliers, agricultural contractors and farmers – and we will continue to act as the situation develops. The Government also launched the ‘Saving Energy Saves Money’ campaign which is designed to support householders and businesses to manage their energy costs, while highlighting the wide range of grants and financial supports available. “The National Energy Affordability Taskforce is working at pace to develop a comprehensive response. An Energy Affordability Action Plan, built around tackling the cost of energy, protecting those most vulnerable to energy poverty, supporting businesses, and empowering consumers, will be brought to Government in Q3. “But we must also be honest about the longer term. We will not insulate ourselves from future price shocks unless we reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. That is why we are prioritising the development of more renewable energy – both onshore and offshore – and reforming the planning system to make it easier to build clean energy projects. Developing our own clean, indigenous energy is not just good for our climate; it is essential for our energy security and long-term competitiveness.” |
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