EirGrid announces opening of next phase of €2.4m community benefit fund

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid has announced the opening of the next phase of community benefit sharing for the Celtic Interconnector project. 

Applications for the second phase of the €2.4 million fund are now being welcomed, with €841,013 in funding available to eligible communities and voluntary groups. 

The Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund was established by EirGrid to recognise the importance of local communities who facilitate this critical development of the electricity grid and will benefit groups and projects in the east Cork project area.

The Celtic Interconnector, a 575 km subsea link between Ireland and France, will enable the movement of electricity between the two countries, making our electricity supply more secure.

The community benefit fund is open to community groups and not-for-profit organisations who can demonstrate benefits to communities from the services, programmes or facilities they provide in the project area, under three streams of funding: community, sustainability and biodiversity. 

Funding of €240,000 will be available for community projects, €240,000 for sustainability projects and €361,013 for biodiversity projects, with an underspend of €121,013 carried over from the first phase of the fund under the biodiversity stream. 

The first phase of the Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund saw 29 community groups receive a total of €838,987, with funding supporting a wide range of projects, from the funding of an electric vehicle community bus, the funding of LED floodlights for Youghal Rugby Football Club, to supporting the development of a school’s sensory garden.

Speaking about the fund opening, Sinead Dooley, Head of Public Engagement at EirGrid, said: “We're delighted to open the next phase of this fund and build on the incredible projects already completed. 

"These initiatives demonstrate the power of collaboration and show how targeted support can make a real difference. We strongly encourage communities to apply, particularly for projects with a biodiversity focus.”

She added: “This fund shows EirGrid’s commitment to supporting local communities as they further environmental sustainability and civic initiatives. 

"We want to thank all the communities in east Cork who have collaborated with us so far as we work to deliver this strategic energy project and we look forward to seeing what can be achieved through this latest phase of funding.” 

The deadline for application is 14 March 2025.