Community Water Development Fund Grant Application Form 2025

River restoration 
E.g. reinstatement of natural processes, preparation of river restoration plans.

Nature-based solutions – Urban 
E.g. rainwater planters, rain gardens, hard surface removal, rainwater management plans etc.

Nature-based solutions – Rural 
Wetlands/ponds, leaky dam, Silt trapping or ‘Slow the Flow’ Natural Flood Retention Measures (e.g. the addition of large woody debris to drains), Flood management measures (e.g., Swales, attenuation ponds), catchment woodlands, etc.

Protected Area Projects 

Projects in support of protection/restoration of drinking water sources, bathing waters, shellfish waters, or water dependent habitats/species, e.g. salmon, freshwater pearl mussel.

Pathway interception measures 
(To reduce phosphorus, microbial pathogens) – e.g. Riparian planting – trees, fencing, closing off cattle access point with provision of cattle drinkers, hedge planting, etc.

Surveys 
E.g. wetland surveys, water quality assessments (macroinvertebrates, fish, chemistry, etc), fluvial geomorphology assessments etc.

Fish barrier mitigation (Note 1)
E.g. feasibility reports, remediation of fish barrier etc.

Permissions & Consents
E.g. Appropriate Assessment Screening, Planning permission, etc.

Fish habitat enhancement (Note 1).

Reports 
E.g. Feasibility Reports for scoping medium to large scale projects.

Landscape management actions 
E.g. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) surveys, biosecurity programmes, IAS treatment (Note 2), IAS removal (Note 2) etc; Bog restoration*** – e.g. conserve and improve. the quality of blanket bogs and associated habitats (Note 2).

Education Programme & Training Delivery 
E.g. Citizen Science; Outdoor classrooms; development of primary of secondary level educations programmes and local delivery; participatory workshops; development of media, or online/social media products; information/training sessions; or collaborative projects.

Blue Dot Catchments Projects (Note 3)  
Projects for the protection and restoration of Ireland’s network of blue dot waters in support of the Blue Dot Catchments Programme.

Biodiversity (Note 4) 
Riparian management/tree planting, planting of native species/hedgerows, de-tunneling, green space development, Creation of habitat near river, lake, wetland; projects in support of the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

Water conservation measures 
E.g. Rainwater harvesting.

Climate action (Note 4) 
Water project with co-benefits for climate; Projects in support of the Climate Action Plan.

Bespoke Projects 
Innovative projects in support of water quality action delivery will be considered.

Note 1. Consultation with IFI is mandatory.
Note 2. Consultation with NPWS and/or Local Authority Biodiversity Officer mandatory.
Note 3. Consultation with LAWPRO’s Blue Dot Catchments team recommended.
Note 4. Must have a water quality benefit