Applications are invited from within the following towns and villages for funding of streetscape and shopfront enhancement projects under the 2021/2022 Town and Village Streetscape Enhancement scheme:
Mountrath
Mountmellick
Rathdowney
Ballinakill
Ballylinan
Our Rural Future is the Government’s five-year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland and includes a commitment to upgrade and enhance shopfronts and street facades in our rural towns and villages. This activity will be funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development (DRCD) through this 2021/2022 Streetscape Enhancement Measure. This is an additional Measure introduced as part of the Town & Village Renewal Scheme. €7 million is being made available under this Measure in 2022. Improving the visual appearance of our urban streetscapes increases pride and confidence in our home towns and villages, making them more attractive places to live, work and do business. For more information please click here.
The Abbeyleix Climate Action Project has been awarded the prestigious Supporting Sustainable Communities award in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.
The project saw Laois County Council creatively engaging the community of Abbeyleix with the topic of climate change. Artist and Science Communicator Niamh Shaw was appointed with the support of Creative Ireland and Midlands Science to work with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns for six months, examining aspects of climate change, making videos of work already ongoing, hosting online discussion panels featuring local speakers and international experts, organising interactive citizen science workshops, and building capacity and confidence in the members on science communication and digital storytelling.
Congratulating the team involved with the project, Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “The Excellence in Local Government Awards showcase best practice in local government and recognise the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised. I am delighted to congratulate the team involved with this project in Laois County Council and within the community in Abbeyleix, for the tremendous work done on this creative project. The past year has continued to provide new challenges as we learn to adapt the way we live and work during a pandemic and I think the way this project delivered so many different digital and online events and outputs really sets it apart from other projects”.
Pictured with the trophy awarded to the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project and Laois County Council as winners of the Sustainable Communities prize in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021. From left: Robbie Quinn, chairman Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Mary White, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns; Dr Niamh Shaw, Science Communicator in Residence for the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project; Cllr Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of LCC; Angela McEvoy, A/Director of Services Housing, Regeneration and Planning LCC; Dr Fiona MacGowan, Ecologist and advisor to Abbeyleix Tidy Towns and Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns. Supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, in partnership with the Heritage Office of Laois County Council, Midlands Science and Abbeyleix Tidy Towns. Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Supporting Sustainable Communities award seeks to recognise projects by Local Authorities that promote social awareness and work with communities to involve them in making their localities a better place in which to live and work. This category celebrates initiatives which promote sustainable communities, development of the community or contribute to improved quality of life in an area.
Welcoming the award Robbie Quinn, Chair of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns said “The impact of the project has been that the members of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns are highly engaged with the issue and there has been an increase in awareness of climate change among the wider community too. We have a bank of over 20 video clips on everything from sustainable travel and food waste to climate anxiety and monitoring the impacts of climate change. It has also resulted in the installation of air quality sensors in the town and the creation of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk, a walk with QR links to animated video clips, so we have a legacy remaining on the ground from the project too”
Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Catherine Fitzgerald MCC performing the launch of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk in 2021, with members of Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, Dr Fiona MacGowan, Jackie Walsh, Cllr John Joe Fennelly, Mary White, Mark Clancy and Robbie Quinn, chairman along with Laois Heritage Officer Catherine Casey, Suzanne Dempsey, LCC-Community and Julie Scully, LCC Healthy Ireland co-ordinator at the launch of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Walk. Picture: Alf Harvey.
The Climate Action Project was supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns and Midlands Science. The Climate Action Walk was created thanks to the support of Healthy Ireland, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal, administered by Laois County Council.
The Local Authority Heritage Officers Network invites you to a new series of Climate Action webinars. Join us for four one-hour sessions every Thursday, starting on 27th January at 9.30am.
You will hear about positive actions for climate from the heritage sector. Topics will include nature-based solutions, adaptation of heritage structures, risk assessment and will focus on methods that we hope will ignite action for climate right across the country.
Malcom Noonan, Minister for State for Heritage will launch the first seminar this Thursday. Paddy Woodworth, journalist will chair this webinar entitled “Embedding Climate in Heritage”. This webinar focuses on how we work to embed the climate crisis, and mitigation and adaptation approaches into the heritage agenda.
“Despite our heritage being a source of inspiration, livelihoods and significance, it is often missing in discussions on climate change…”.
– Dr. Kate Crowley, PCAN, Edinburgh.
This webinar focuses on how we work to embed the climate crisis, and mitigation and adaptation approaches into the heritage agenda. Our first webinar chair is Paddy Woodworth, author and journalist.
“Peatlands are an outstanding example of nature-based solutions and should be high on the political agenda…We must make peatland protection a more central part of our climate policy.”
– Global Peatlands Initiative at COP26.
Wetlands and peatlands are super solutions for climate, due to their important role for both climate mitigation in absorbing carbon and adaptation by providing many ecosystem services.
Our webinar chair today is Dr Martina Maloney, Chairperson of the Heritage Council.
Nature is “one of the most effective ways” of combatting climate change.
– Inger Andersen, UNEP.
Nature-based solutions are actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems. They address societal challenges, thereby simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
Our webinar chair today is Claire Cooper, Assistant Principal, Science & Biodiversity Unit, NPWS.
“Real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.”
– David Attenborough.
Local Authorities work with communities, landowners and politicians to create improved understanding and engagement with our places through the lenses of heritage and biodiversity. A sense of rootedness in a community helps stabilise society and allows actions to be taken for the common good.
Our webinar chair today is Sean McKeown, Director of Services, Kilkenny County Council and member of CCMA Rural Development, Community, Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee.
This seminar series is organised by the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network. Local Authority Heritage Officers play a key role in promoting heritage awareness, developing policy and providing advice and information on local as well as national heritage issues.
County Heritage Officers are employed by Local Authorities in partnership with the Heritage Council under the auspices of the Heritage Officer Programme, which was initiated in 1999. The programme celebrated 20 years in 2019. As of 1st September 2021, there is now a Heritage Officer employed in each Local Authority. More information on the network is here.
Laois County Council have some places available on their upcoming PFS outdoor trainer course on Friday 21st January 2022. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come basis. Places to be booked by 12 noon on Thursday 20th January 2022. Check out the poster for more information and how to book.
Laois County Council have some places available on their upcoming PFS outdoor trainer course on Friday 21st January 2022. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come basis. Places to be booked by 12 noon on Thursday 20th January 2022. Check out the poster for more information and how to book.
Laois County Council have some places available on their upcoming PFS outdoor trainer course on Friday 21st January 2022. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come basis. Places to be booked by 12 noon on Thursday 20th January 2022 . Check out the poster for more information and how to book.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, TD has announced a newly expanded Local Authority Home Loan scheme.
Minister O’Brien, along with Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath, signed regulations giving effect to the new Local Authority Home Loan scheme from January 4th, 2022.
Commenting he said, “Supporting home ownership is a key objective for this Government. In Housing for All, our new Plan for housing in Ireland we committed to introducing a reformed Local Authority Home Loan scheme to further support access to homeownership for creditworthy homebuyers who otherwise find it difficult to access sufficient finance.
“The new regulations will make it easier for single people to avail of a State backed mortgage for a new, second-hand or self-build home. A ‘Fresh Start’ principle also applies which means that people who are divorced or separated and have no interest in the family home, or who have undergone insolvency proceedings, will be eligible to apply also.
“I am now raising the income ceiling for a single applicant by €15,000 to €65,000 in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow.
“This comes on top of enhancements already made to the scheme. In September I lowered the interest rate for local authority lending by 0.25% and this lower interest rate will continue to apply to loans issued under the Local Authority Home Loan.
“Ultimately, this Government, through Housing for All, is working to put the dream of homeownership back in reach for people. Today’s announcement is another step in that direction,” he concluded.
Lets all start afresh this New Years Day and keep the walkways and paths clean for all users. Please be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your pet.
Laois County Council Arts Service invites applications for the following awards and opportunities to individuals/groups and organisations in 2022 click the link for application forms for Grants and Schemes and more info on Arts Act Grants, the Tyrone Guthrie Residency Bursary, Artists in Schools and Culture Night expressions of interest form.
Arts Act Grants 2022 – Provision has been made by Laois County Council for the payment of grants to Laois arts organisations and individuals who meet the artistic and financial criteria set down by Laois County Council and who provide adequate information on their proposed activities. Maximum amount payable will not exceed €1000.
Tyrone Guthrie Residency Bursary Awards 2022 – A bursary is available to enable two Laois artists to spend one week working at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in County Monaghan. The bursary is open to artists in all fields and is selected based on previous achievements and projects in hand.
Artists in Schools Scheme 2022 – Grants are available for artists’ residencies in schools, to include all art forms. This scheme gives primary and post primary schools the opportunity to select and work with professional artists and explore new arts media.
Culture Night 2022 – Expressions of interest are invited from arts and culture groups and individuals interested in organising events to be included in the funding application process for culture night in September 2022.
Details and application forms available from: The Arts Office, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
T: 057 8664033 E: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie Closing date for receipt of these completed applications is Thursday 24th February 2022.
Dogs are not just for Christmas nor is the responsibility to clean up after them. If your dog fouls while you are out walking, bag it, bin it or bring it home.
Think of other walkers and path users and walk away from a €150 fine.
