Since the establishment of the Meath County Council Community Grants Scheme in 2003, local GAA clubs have received funding to the tune of over EUR1.1 million. Here, the Council's Director of Services for Community & Enterprise Michael Killeen explains more. Over the past decade, millions of euro has been spent by GAA clubs in improving and upgrading their facilities. The more progressive clubs can now boast state-of-the-art clubhouses, spectator stands, floodlighting and all-weather pitches. In the majority of cases, clubs have received substantial grant assistance to make their dream become a reality. Since its inception three years ago, the Meath County Council Community Grants Scheme has allocated over EUR1.1 million to GAA clubs in the county. Among the main beneficiaries have been Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Dunboyne who have received EUR300,000 and EUR180,000 in grant aid respectively. "We have provided significant funding to GAA clubs in this county since the Community Grants Scheme was launched in 2003," says Michael Killeen, Director of Services for Community, Enterprise, Recreation, Culture and Heritage with Meath County Council. "The Scheme was set up to provide funding for County Council initiatives and community projects. What comes across strongly in our dealings with GAA clubs is how well organised and forward-thinking they are. "The GAA is one of the biggest sporting organisations in the country and it's easy to see why when they have so many committed people working on their behalf." The Community & Enterprise Department of Meath County Council has responsibility for administering the Community Grants Scheme. In 2004, funding amounted to EUR578,000 with GAA clubs receiving EUR178,000 of that figure. In 2005, EUR1.061 million was allocated with the GAA receiving EUR465,000. This year, GAA clubs received EUR460,000 of funding totalling EUR1.493 million. "We see it as an implementation of 9 recreation leisure and amenity strategy for the county, as well as community building," explains Michael, who lives in Navan but is a native of Tynagh, Co. Galway. "We receive about 12 applications every year from GAA clubs. The applicants which are looked upon more favourably are the ones which show the capacity to deliver their project." Successful applicants can receive grants ranging from EUR5,000 to EUR100,000 in one year. Donaghmore/Ashbourne's redevelopment project has clearly impressed the Community & Enterprise Department, having received the maximum grant for three years running. St. Peter's, Dunboyne have also fared well, as has the club's ladies football section who were able to build new dressing rooms in an arrangement with St. Peter's College. Other GAA clubs to have benefited include Oldcastle, Bective, Rathmolyon and St. Colmcille's. "We are delighted to be in a position to help clubs to develop and improve their facilities. The knock-on effect is that it encourages more people in those areas to become actively involved in sport and other community groups. Clubs that receive funding are required to erect a plaque which we supply." The Community Grants Scheme was established to provide financial assistance to Meath County Council, community-based clubs and voluntary organisations for the development of sporting, recreational, environmental, amenity, heritage and cultural facilities in the county. The Scheme is funded through the proceeds of the County Council Amenity Levy on new development. This Levy is a contribution required under conditions attached to certain planning permissions that must be paid to the planning authority for the purpose of providing recreation and amenity facilities in the county. The overall grant aid or capital assistance varies from year to year depending on the availability of net resources. Net resources are the amount of money available after funding is provided for certain Council-backed initiatives in the local area, for administration of the Scheme and for the development of the "Pride of Place" initiatives. In general, applications are considered from not-for-profit organisations or associations which: are registered and are in good standing with their national representative bodies (if any); have a constitution or rules acceptable to the Council; hold annual general meetings; are open to new members without discrimination from the area which the club or association serves; have audited financial and other records available to the Council if required; may not be part of a formal structure as described above but who can demonstrate that they are representative of their local community. Projects which are eligible for funding include: parks; amenity areas; footpaths and walking areas; community halls and resource centres; playgrounds; recreational facilities; local heritage projects, including the restoration of old burial grounds. Projects which show a combination of a range of guaranteed funding mechanisms such as National Lottery funding, Leader funding, Enterprise funding, local sponsorship and so on are particularly encouraged. Assistance is not made available to fund maintenance or day-to-day running expenses. Mobile assets are not considered for financial assistance. In this context, mobile assets include sports equipment. The overall amount of funding available in any one year is announced annually in early January. Applications are invited between the date of the announcement and April 1. Funding not availed of in any year is reallocated to other qualifying projects or carried forward to the following year's fund at the discretion of the Council. Up to 60 per cent of the cost of capital expenditure subject to a maximum grant of EUR100,000 is available. Consideration may be given to allocating funding in excess of this maximum amount where the applicant body can demonstrate that the project concerned is of countywide/wider area importance. In considering whether funding in excess of the maximum amount will be approved, consideration will be given to the overall level of funding available in the relevant year and the number and nature of other applications on hand. It is always the aim of the Scheme to grant aid the maximum possible number of eligible projects in any year. Assistance is provided for substantial new projects (costing more than EUR10,000) or refurbishment of existing facilities. Projects with a lesser cost may be considered if they demonstrate that they will have a positive effect on the available amenity/recreation facilities or physical appearance of an area. Funds are allocated on the basis of need where there is a genuine lack of facilities of the type proposed, where the project is considered to be viable and sustainable in the long-term and where there is adequate public access and community support. Funding is not paid for any project which required planning permission and for which planning permission has not been obtained although projects may be approved in principle pending receipt of permission. Beneficiaries in some instances may be required to provide the Council with a realistic business plan dealing with the future running and maintenance costs of the project and the sources of the ongoing funding to meet such costs. Applications for funding must be submitted on the appropriate application form and all relevant and necessary information and supporting documentation must be included. Incomplete applications not supported by the required documentation will not be considered and will be returned in full to the applicants. A formal agreement will be signed between the beneficiary and the Council to reflect the terms and conditions of this Scheme prior to the payment of any funding. Completed application forms should be returned to: Community & Enterprise Department, Meath County Council, County Hall, Railway Street, Navan, Co. Meath. Phone: 046-9097000. Fax: 046-9097001; Email: [email protected] GAA's role in promoting cleaner environment Meath County Council continues its on-going awareness campaign aimed at improving the environment and making the county a cleaner and better place to live in. The GAA has an important role to play in promoting good environmental practice explains Environmental Awareness Officer Bernadine Carry The battle against waste has taken on added impetus in Ireland in recent years. Meath County Council has been to the forefront with its waste management and recycling strategies to meet the targets set out by the EU. The progression has been steady and has led to an ever increasing reduction in the volume of waste going to landfill with a reduction in litter levels across the county too. "What we are trying to do is to get everyone to consider the impact their everyday lives have on the environment and to do their best to protect the environment for future generations.  This includes reducing the waste which they produce - at home, at work and at school.  All material which can be recycled should be placed either in the 'Blue' Recycling Bin or taken to the closest recycling facility for recycling.  People should aim to buy good quality durable goods which will last longer.  We should all avoid over packaged goods and should seek out products which are both recycled and recyclable.  Look for locally produced food and products which haven't had to travel far to get to your home.  Don't waste water and don't waste energy.  These simple actions, if we all undertake them in our daily lives, will have a very positive effect on the future of our environment' says Bernadine Carry, Environmental Awareness Officer for Co. Meath. "We have various initiatives running at the moment to raise awareness and to get people to become more environmentally friendly, and feedback suggests that most people are genuinely concerned for the environment and are more than willing to act accordingly when given the appropriate facilities and opportunities." Bernadine, who hails from Lloyd outside Kells and whose father Paddy Carry was a prominent footballer with Kells, Drumbaragh and Meath in the 1960s and 1970s, stresses the key role the GAA has to play in making the county a cleaner and better place to live in. "Our aim is to promote good environmental practice and the GAA can set a good example to its younger members in this regard. We are working with a number of GAA clubs to provide Bring Banks at their grounds. Bring Banks are already in operation at the GAA grounds in Enfield and Castletown.  We would be delighted to work in partnership with other club's to provide these facilities for their local communities. "It makes perfect sense to locate Bring Banks at GAA clubs because of the large number of people that use their club's facilities on a daily basis. Most GAA clubs are a constant hive of activity," Bernadine adds. Meath County Council has set up a number of environmental initiatives throughout the county, including the new Recycling Centre in Kells, the hugely successful Green Schools Programme, the Anti-Litter League, which is due to begin next spring, and the Meath Energy Management Agency. The new Kells Recycling Centre complements those already in operation in Navan and Trim. The new Centre, which is situated in Lloyd Business Park, is the biggest of its kind in Co. Meath. Built on a 1.5 acre site backing onto the Blackwater River, the centre opened for business in November 2006. The three Centres are expected to divert 10,000 tonnes of recyclable waster materials from landfill annually. Among the materials accepted at the Navan, Trim and Kells Recycling Centres are: green, brown and clear glass; newsprint/magazines; cardboard and cardboard packaging; plastic bottles and bags; food and drink cans; reusable clothing; waste oils; timber; scrap metal; green garden waste; mobile phones; used household batteries. When visiting the Centres, users are reminded to ensure that they deposit their waste materials in the appropriate container. Rinse cans and bottles and flatten cardboard packaging. Assistance will be provided by staff if needed. "About 1,000 people a week use each of the Recycling Centres, with higher figures throughout the Summer and at Christmas. We hope to open another Recycling Centre to cater for the growing population in the south of the county in the near future," Bernadine explains. There are currently 28 Bring Bank sites across Co. Meath. The County Council is committed to broadening this network to 50 over a two year period. 2005 was the busiest year ever for glass and can recycling in the county, with almost 2,000 tonnes of glass and 100 tonnes of aluminium cans recycled through the Bring Bank network. This high level of recycling is a great achievement for the people of Meath. However, it is equally important that the Bring Banks are not abused with litter and illegal dumping. Many people set out to do the right thing by recycling and then commit an offence by leaving bags and boxes behind at the site. This creates a huge problem for the property owners, the recycler and the next person who comes to use the site and finds it in an unattractive state. It also puts enormous pressure on the expansion of the Bring Bank network and communities reject these essential facilities for fear of littering in their area. The message is: never leave recyclable materials lying at the base of the Bring Banks and never leave you empty bags or boxes behind. Meath County Council has invested in a number of covert and overt CCTV systems to eradicate this. Bernadine expresses satisfaction with the impact of Meath County Council's Anti-Litter League, which will be kicking off once again in 2007. There was a great response to the initiative this year from the many groups across the county who were actively trying to combat litter in their areas. Rathmolyon scooped the prestigious top prize in the competition in 2006. There are six categories in the Anti-Litter League. These range from small housing estates to villages and large towns. In 2007, judging will take place on a fortnightly basis and points will be lost for the presence of litter. The League results will be published and broadcast in the media fortnightly for the first three rounds of judging with the last round of results remaining a mystery until the awards ceremony in April when all the winners will be announced. Cash prizes as well as trophies will be awarded to all the winners and runners-up in each category. Another successful initiative is the Green School Programme. Green Schools is a worldwide awards scheme that rewards and accredits schools that make a commitment to continuously improve their environmental performance. Green Schools is also a learning resource that raises awareness in environmental issues through activities that link to the curriculum.  It is a whole school action seven-step programme designed to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of life in the school for pupils and staff. The programme also reaches out to parents, families and the community within the local area of participating schools. 'Most of the schools in the programme undertake to compost and recycle their waste using composters, wormeries, paper shredding and recycling.  Many have in-house recycling centres recycling batteries, cans, plastic bottles, ringos, mobile phones.  They develop healthy lunch policies for their schools.  All undertake litter management rotas.  They learn to grow vegetables, herb and wildflower gardens using their own compost.  The write and send newsletters home, encouraging their parents and friends to take action to protect the environment too.  In fact, if all households and businesses managed their environment like a Green School, the future of our environment would be in very safe hands indeed', commented Bernadine Carry.  There are currently 13 Green Schools throughout Co. Meath, with many more registered who will go forward for a Green Flag in 2007. The Meath Energy Management Agency (MEMA), established to raise awareness on energy issues and to improve energy efficiency throughout the County, also provides information on renewable energy technologies approved for the Central Government Grant Scheme titled "Greener Homes Scheme'. The scheme is being rolled out over a five-year period and will potentially support the conversion to renewable energy in over 10,000 homes. In March of this year, Minister Noel Dempsey launched a EUR27 million grant aid scheme for all households to avail of financial incentives to retrofit their homes with renewable energy. The Greener Home Scheme applies to wood pellet stoves and boilers, heat pumps (geothermal) and solar panels. Full details and application forms are available from and are administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland. Council has identified areas throughout the county which do not at present have ready access to a regular waste collection service. Recently, two environmental patrol officers employed by the Council began surveying these areas to establish how waste is managed by the householders and to assess the viability for collectors providing services in these areas. Meath County Council provides information on their website at www.meath.ie on all of these initiatives. Tweet

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