Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund

The Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund has been established by EirGrid to recognise the important role of local communities who are hosting this grid infrastructure and to acknowledge the temporary disruption which may be caused within proximity of the cable line during the construction phase of the project.

The fund has a total value of €2.4 million which is released in three phases: when construction begins, mid-way through the project, and when the project is energised.

The overall aim is to increase public and environmental wellbeing in the community and to leave a positive legacy in the communities hosting this grid infrastructure.

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EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid has awarded community groups and not-for-profit organisations near the Celtic Interconnector project a total of €821,265.50.

The funding, associated with the sub-sea cable project which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and France, will see 53 local community groups and projects benefit.

This is the second of three phases of funding available to communities in the project area, with the total fund amounting to €2.4million. 

This latest phase of funding covers three activity streams, with €240,000 allocated through the community stream, €236,437.50 via the sustainability stream and €344,828 for projects covering biodiversity initiatives, with the biodiversity figure including an additional amount of funding due to an underspend in biodiversity projects in the first phase.  

Speaking about the fund, EirGrid’s Head of Public Engagement, Sinead Dooley said: “This fund was established to support east Cork communities to develop projects and initiatives that will leave a lasting positive legacy long after the Celtic Interconnector project is delivered. This latest phase will continue to support the huge efforts of community groups in developing positive spaces for all ages, supporting healthy initiatives and provide an important boost to energy and biodiversity projects.

We are once again proud to support these efforts and look forward to seeing what can be achieved through this fund.”

The Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund was established by EirGrid to recognise the important part local communities play in the development of the electricity grid, the impact works can have on communities, and to ensure funds benefit groups and projects in these areas.

29 groups receive funding in Phase 1

Phase 1 of the fund opened for applications on 29 June 2023 and closed on 15 September 2023. 

In December 2023, the successful applicants of Phase 1 of funding were announced.

There were a high number of applicants, and the majority were successful, with 29 in total receiving funding.

Independent fund administrator SECAD Partnership CLG contacted the successful applicants.

Successful projects were located throughout the project area, featuring a broad range of activities from sports to arts, to youth services and older age organisations. 

This first phase of funding covered our three activity streams, with €320,000 allocated through the community stream and €320,000 via the sustainability stream. A total of €198,987 was allocated for projects as part of the biodiversity stream, with the remaining €120,000 unallocated due to a shortfall of biodiversity projects. 

As per the guidelines, this money has been carried over and allocated in the next funding round to support impactful community-based biodiversity project applications.