Cork City Council is hoping to launch a new round of the Community Climate Fund later in 2025.
Cork City Council would now love to hear what your ideas are for the next round of the fund. Please tell us your ideas in our Expression of Interest form.
Please note that a more in-depth application phase will open at a later date where your project ideas will be developed with the Climate Action Unit, Cork City Council. If you are interested in applying for these funds or would like more information, please email climateactionfund@corkcity.ie
The objective of the Community Climate Action Fund is to support members of our community to act in their local areas. Its goal is to shape and build low-carbon, sustainable communities, and community resilience
Projects must deliver a direct positive impact on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or helping communities adapt to the consequences of climate change.
Projects should address at least one, preferably several, or the following five themes:
- Energy - Actions that improve the energy efficiency of community buildings and small scale renewable energy projects.
- Travel - Actions that encourage less car journeys in favour of more sustainable modes of transport.
- Food and Waste - Projects that support community food growing initiatives and the reduction of waste.
- Shopping and Recycling - Initiatives which support the circular economy, such as upcycling, library of things and fix-it initiatives.
- Local Climate and Environmental Action - Initiatives which support nature and biodiversity whilst building climate resilience, such as tree planting, bug residencies and sustainable urban drainage initiatives.
The Community Climate Action Programme grants can fund up to 100% of all eligible costs.
You can apply for different sized grants:
- Small scale projects < €20,000
- Medium scale projects €20,000 to €50,000
- Large scale projects €50,000 to €100,000
In June 2024, 23 projects were funded in the first round of the Community Climate Action Fund. Below are some of the actions that were some of the initiatives that were funded that your organisation might be interested in:
- Solar PV Installation
- Retrofitting community buildings
- Community Composting
- Energy efficiency upgrades
- LED community lighting
- Learn-to-cycle activity track
- Community Cargo Bikes
- Green Walls
- Dye Gardens
- Safe bike parking
- Community Gardens
- Repair Hubs
- Water filling stations
- Tree planting and Orchards
- Pollinator projects
You can find a more in-depth look at our funded projects below:
CCAF FlipbookCork City Council would now love to hear what your ideas are for the next round of the fund. Please tell us your ideas in our Expression of Interest form. If you are interested in applying for these funds or would like more information, please email climateactionfund@corkcity.ie
Eligible community organisations must:
- Be not-for-profit.
- Be located within the boundaries of Cork city.
- Submit a completed application form by the deadline (TBD)
- Be registered with the Cork City PPNor be connected with other collectives such as The Wheel, Tidy Towns, or be a community group with Articles of Association, which hold an AGM with appropriately approved minutes.
PPN membership is not a requirement of this funding. However, it can be helpful for community organizations to join. If you would like to join, you can find application forms at Register to join the Cork City PPN and a membership checklist at PPN Member Directory.
Private individuals, commercial undertakings, and national community or environmental organisations are not eligible for funding from the Community Climate Action Programme.
Procurement
Applicants are required to undertake their project in line with public procurement guidelines in relation to the procurement of all goods, services and works. When completing the application form, organisations are requested to include a minimum of three quotes for any purchases of goods, services or works for the project. Quotes should be applicable for when the project is due to commence and take into consideration any envisaged cost increases. Applicants should consider green procurement, where possible.
Where three quotes for a particular product/service is not possible or overly burdensome in the case of multiple project components, the requirement for three quotes per item may be waived and the application may be evaluated on the quotes available. Documentary evidence should be provided showing efforts made to obtain three quotes where possible. The applicant should consult with their Community Climate Action Officer prior to submitting their application.
For any goods or services you will need for you project, you will need to SEEK quotations. Below are the thresholds for how you will seek these.
Thresholds for procurement of Goods & Services (exclusive of VAT):
- Less than €5,000: minimum of three quotes by email with initial contact by phone
- Between €5,000 and €50,000: provide written specifications and to seek a minimum of three written quotes
- Greater than €50,000: use the eTenders website to advertise. Not using E-Tenders seek minimum of five written tenders.
Eligible Costs
The Community Climate Action Fund may only fund capital expenditure that are identified through the application process.
Only Vouched Expenditure will be reimbursed.
This means groups need to pay for items before we can reimburse them. This may cause cash-flow issues, or necessitate use of reserves or getting bridging finance.
Ineligible Cost
Examples of costs/projects that are not eligible under the Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) include
Projects that solely benefit an individual, Teaching/staffing, Travel and transport costs except in exceptional circumstances, Equipment, unless directly associated with the project, Income generating projects, Overheads, ongoing running costs, Insurance, Accommodation and subsistence, Redundancy costs, Penalties/Interest/Bank Interest/Charges, Loan repayments, Retrospective costs, i.e., expenditure which has taken place prior to approval date of the project, Notional costs e.g., the room hire within the applicant’s own premises, Legal Fees
This list is not exhaustive, and all costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Cork City Council. All grant payments from the Community Climate Action Programme will be issued in arrears and for eligible vouched expenditure only.
State Aid Requirements
Applicants will be required to self-assess whether any potential funding received for their project from the Community Climate Action Programme would constitute state aid. In the cases that involve state aid, the groups will be required to declare previous De Minimus State aid received and any funding will be aid offered through the De Minimus Regulation (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013), provided it would not breach the relevant De Minimus ceiling.
Public funding is deemed to be ‘State Aid’ where it provides the recipient, whether an enterprise, not-for-profit organisation, or an individual, an economic advantage over others. To comply with State Aid rules, the level of funding provided to a project promoter must not exceed €200,000 - this is known as the De Minimis ceiling. De Minimis regulations sets a limit on how much assistance can be given to organisations. The current limit for a company, or group, irrespective
of size or location, is €200,000 during the previous three-year fiscal period.
Many groups/ projects under this Programme would not be considered State Aid and therefore will not be subject to the De Minimis ceiling. However, community groups when submitting their application will need to clarify their status and if necessary declare if they have previously received any De Minimis State Aid (e.g. from a state agency, government department, Local Enterprise Office, local authority, LEADER funding etc.). The Community Climate Action Officer
will be able to assist groups on this requirement.
