Laois community groups gather for workshop on new €50,000 environmental funding

There was a great turnout from local groups for Laois County Council’s workshop

Published 7th Aug 2026, 13:30 BST Laois County Council Climate Action staff with participants at the LEAF workshop at The Cube in Portlaoise. Photo: Michael Scully. There was a great turnout from local groups for Laois County Council’s workshop Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

A workshop was recently held to support Tidy Towns and community groups in Laois looking to apply for funding of €50,000 from the new Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF).

Laois County Council’s Climate Action Section hosted the workshop at The Cube in Portlaoise and it was attended by representatives from 14 groups from across the county.

The aim of the workshop was to help participants turn local environmental ideas into strong, achievable projects.

The new initiative, LEAF, will provide a total of €50,000 to support community-led environmental, biodiversity and climate action projects throughout County Laois.

Front row: Kevin Manning, Energy Engineer at Laois County Council, Lisa Doyle, Biodiversity Officer, John Hogan, Chair of the Board at IPB Insurance, Sam McLeod, Environmental Awareness Officer, and Anne Lennon, Climate Action Officer. Back row: Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Coordinator, Martin Kells, Chairperson of Laois Federation of Tidy Towns, Colette O Rourke, Community Climate Action Officer, and Pat Delaney, Director of Services. | Photo: Michael Scully The fund is open to Tidy Towns groups, which may also partner with other local organisations, including schools, sports clubs, men’s and women’s sheds as well as community groups to broaden participation and maximise the impact of projects.

During the workshop, members of Laois County Council’s Climate Action Section presented practical project ideas relating to their respective areas of expertise. Topics included the circular economy, biodiversity, energy, community gardening and other locally focused environmental initiatives.

The Heath into Round 3 of Laois SFC as Clonaslee St Manman's bow out Climate Action staff intend to follow up directly with participating groups and provide guidance to assist with the development of suitable projects and applications.

John Hogan, Chair of the Board at IPB Insurance, Martin Kells, Chairperson of Laois Federation of Tidy Towns, and Pat Delaney, Director of Services at Laois County Council. | Photo: Michael Scully. The workshop also included a presentation by Martin Kells, Chairperson of the Laois Federation of Tidy Towns, who shared practical advice on rainwater harvesting systems and their potential application within community projects.

Commenting on the workshop, Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Coordinator with Laois County Council, said: “The purpose of the workshop was not only to explain the LEAF application process, but to work directly with groups and help them identify practical projects that respond to the needs of their communities. We want groups to know that assistance is available throughout the project-development process.”

Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Coordinator with Laois County Council, speaking at the workshop. | Photo: Michael Scully. John Hogan of IPB Insurance who supports the initiative said: “At IPB Insurance, we are proud to support initiatives like the Local Environmental Action Fund that deliver real, positive impacts at community level. Local authorities and community groups are at the forefront of environmental action, and by working together we can help create more sustainable and resilient places for people to live, work and thrive.”

Applications for the fund are now open and will close on Thursday, August 27.

Groups interested in applying or seeking assistance with the development of a project can contact the Climate Action Section at Laois County Council at [email protected] .