€1.09 million has been allocated for two environmental grant schemes.

The projects are the 2015 Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund and the 2015 Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS).

Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, has allocated €690,000 in grants from the Environment Fund to local authorities under the 2015 Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, local authorities provide support for public education and awareness initiatives in relation to both litter and graffiti.

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The anti-litter grants provided to city and county councils are utilised to fund a range of measures aimed at raising public awareness of the litter issue and promoting anti-litter and anti-graffiti activity at a local level. There is a particular focus on voluntary initiatives involving schools, young people and community groups.

This Local Agenda (LA) 21 Environmental Partnership fund has operated since 1997 and supports local environmental initiatives by communities, individuals and not-for-profit groups. The Minister has allocated funding of €400,000 to this year's scheme, maintaining funding at 2014 levels: a tabular breakdown of allocations to each local authority is attached at Appendix 2. In addition to the €400,000 provided by the Department, local authorities will provide matching funding of €400,000 and there will be a significant contribution from private sources. In 2014, total funding invested through the LA21 Scheme was in excess of €1.4m, including the matching funding provided by local authorities, and additional funding leveraged from private sources.

(CD/MH)