Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
210. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if NPWS provides support annually for an organisation (details supplied); and if so, the cost of same in 2020. [16447/21]
View answerI recently approved the 2021 allocation of funding to the Irish Environmental Network(IEN) from the Environment Fund. I will be providing funding of €1,764,000 for the IEN and its constituent members in 2021. This is an increase of €704,000 on the level of funding provided in 2020. This funding is granted subject to the recipients complying with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 13 of 2014, “Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds”.
This significantly increased level of funding shows my strong support for the importance of the work done by the member organisations of the IEN. These national environmental NGOs are active on a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity and climate change.
I also recognise that, in addition to the climate and biodiversity challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to communities and society. IEN members have had to adapt quickly in response to the changing landscape, developing the new skills and tools needed to shift their activities online, including supporting their members activities through virtual events; the roll-out of a web-based communications platform; and grants to offset the costs of remote working.
