Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any funding available from him or the EU under the water framework directive for funding community-based environmental educational initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22085/11]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information regarding the EU Life Programme and the possibility of funding for community-based educational initiatives that have their objective of raising environmental awareness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22086/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.

The EU LIFE+ Programme 2007-2013 is a dedicated EU funding instrument for the environment which complements existing EU funding arrangements. It succeeds the EU LIFE Programme under which Ireland received funding of €14.5 million in respect of 30 LIFE- Environment projects.

Life+ has three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance and LIFE+ Information and Communication. Environment Awareness projects generally fit in the third strand of the Programme.

In addition all projects funded by the Life+ Programme have to include a public awareness strategy.

Projects must accord with national and EU priorities and have a clear EU added value. The programme is open to public or private bodies, or institutions registered in the EU.

The current phase of the programme runs from 2007-2013 and has a budget of just over €2 billion. Ireland's allocation is approximately €4 million per annum. The maximum co-financing available from the European Commission is 50% with exceptions for certain projects under the LIFE+ Nature component which may receive up to 75% EU contribution when clearly targeting priority species or habitats.

Projects are assessed by the Commission based on their published Guidelines which are available on my Department's website www.environ.ie and on the EU website http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm.

Under the current Life + Programme, the Commission publishes an annual call for applications. Applications are routed through the National Focal Points which, in Ireland's case, is the Sustainable Development Unit of my Department. The deadline for submission of proposals this year was 18 July 2011.

The Local Agenda 21 Environment Partnership Fund is an annual grant scheme which has been run by my Department since 1997. Funded and administered jointly by my Department and local authorities, the aim of the scheme is to promote sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local community level. This year a fund of €395,000 is being allocated by my Department, with matching funding expected from the Local Authorities. The encouragement of further private funding from individuals, groups or businesses is expected to achieve total funding for 2011 in excess of €1 million. 3,163 projects have been supported since the introduction of the scheme. The 448 successful projects in 2010 ranged widely in scope, including from community gardens, allotments, compost schemes, rainwater harvesting systems, ecological educational initiatives, environmental exhibitions and recycling initiatives.

There is no funding currently allocated under the EU Water Framework Directive for community based environmental education initiatives.