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Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland announces €600,000 green stimulus fund for innovators & SMEs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched a €600,000 funding opportunity for Irish innovators to develop and demonstrate business-ready solutions for the circular economy.
Circular businesses reduce costs by reusing & recycling materials already in use; and build vibrant, new businesses. The EPA’s Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy programme supports organisations to develop and demonstrate new circular economy approaches.
- A circular economy must be part of Ireland’s green recovery supporting job creation, generating economic growth; and improving our environment.
- This EPA fund provides an opportunity for business and companies to innovate in areas such as food waste, plastics and construction and demolition to provide new products and services.
- A circular economy is based on waste reduction, reuse and recycling and can be part of a new growth strategy for Ireland.
Ms Laura Burke (Director General of the EPA) stated:
“We are at a pivotal point for our economy and the recovery steps we take now will shape Ireland for the next decade. Moving to put circular principles at the core of our economic model offers the opportunity to rebuild our economy, generate new jobs and respond to climate change. As we emerge from national lockdown, a ‘green’ recovery stimulus provides a unique opportunity to generate lasting economic activity that does not over-burden the environment and waste our limited resources. The Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy programme provides funding to companies and other organisations that want to stimulate and implement circular economy practices in Ireland.”
As Irish businesses look ahead, they need to align with consumer demand for less resource intensive products and services. Green Enterprise is a key support for this transformation and is tailored to stimulate innovation for sustainable products and services. Applications are invited from businesses within the Food, Construction & Demolition, Plastics and Resources & Raw Materials sector for projects that aim to increase efficiency of materials and avail of opportunities for reuse & recycling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ms Mary Frances Rochford (Programme Manager, EPA Office of Environmental Sustainability) stated:
“Developing the circular economy is a strong and effective climate action. The circular economy is a cornerstone of the EU Green Deal, which is transforming Europe’s economy towards a sustainable future and empowering our commitments to be climate-neutral by 2050. Our Green Enterprise programme supports innovators to develop & demonstrate circular initiatives to drive growth and secure the future for Ireland’s SMEs.”
A ‘circular’ economy reduces waste throughout the economic cycle, and ensures that materials are used efficiently. The transition to a circular economy will create opportunities for innovative organisations to build new businesses based on avoiding use of disposable items; extending product lifetimes; and finding new uses for by-products.
Innovation improves competitiveness and fosters new business opportunities and so is core to growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises. This programme is an important driver of Ireland’s move to a more circular economy and supports SMEs and other organisations to transform their business models.
Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy is a flagship initiative of Ireland’s National Waste Prevention Programme. Further information on the National Waste Prevention Programme and the funding call Green Enterprise – Innovation for a Circular Economy is available on the EPA website.
Learn about fish, water and angling with the help of the Irish educational programme ‘Something Fishy’.
‘Something Fishy’ is an Irish educational programme developed by the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) and Blackrock Education Centre (BEC). It is aimed at primary school pupils aged 10-13 years and teaches about fish, water, angling, and the overall environment.
The ‘Something Fishy’ programme comprises a ‘Kids Zone’ (View HERE), ‘Teachers Zone’ (View HERE) and ‘Resources Section’ (View HERE).
The eight lessons supported across the kids, teachers and resource zones enable children to learn about water; the life cycle of a salmon called Bradán; fish and nutrition and how to be a responsible angler, conservationist and environmentalist.
To learn more about the ‘Something Fishy’ programme visit HERE or contact ‘Something Fishy’, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, by phone on +353 (0)52 618 0055 or by email at contact@fisheriesireland.ie
Help conserve our Irish waterways and protect our fish. Do remember you can report pollution or poaching 24 hours a day by phoning: 1890 34 74 24.
Go on a “Virtual School Tour” of the following famous international destinations.
Once you have finished your virtual school tour of famous Irish places (see earlier post by viewing HERE), why not cross the continents and visit some of these famous international destinations.
NASA, USA.
Learn about space by visiting the NASA Glen Research Centre (View HERE) or the Langley Research Centre (View HERE). Take a tour of inside a space shuttle by viewing HERE. If you are feeling really adventurous why not take a tour of Mars (View HERE)?
The Anne Frank Museum, Amsterdam.
Learn about the life of Anne Frank and discover the stories behind a collection of original items that are connected to her history. To visit this museum and the secret annex where she lived during WWII, view HERE.
Clearwater Aquarium, Florida, USA.
Clearwater Aquarium in Florida, is not your typical aquarium. They are committed to environmental preservation and the aquarium is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life. Why not visit some of the animals currently under their care including pelicans, dolphins, turtles and clownfish (View HERE).
Pompeii, Italy.
In 79AD the ancient Italian city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted. Rediscovered in the mid-18th century, the city was perfectly preserved and is nothing short of a historical marvel. (View HERE)
The Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China is an ancient wall built between 1368-1644 to protect the north of the empire of China from enemy attacks. It is the longest structure ever built by humans measuring an estimated 21,196 kilometres long. To visit this incredible structure view HERE.
Rainforests of Borneo.
Go HERE to visit the rainforests of Borneo, along with other wonders of nature including coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean and the diverse ecosystems of Columbia and Peru.
Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia.
Take a virtual tour of Western Australia’s parks and wildlife by viewing HERE.
Some of the amazing places to visit include Granite Skywalk, Danguu Geikie Gorge, Yanchep National Park and Black Rock Falls.
Further community public engagement with regards to the planned upgrade to Thurles Town Centre has, understandably, been put on hold due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic.
Earlier this year, an on-line questionnaire had been commissioned by Tipperary County Council, in their effort to obtain public feedback, as part of ongoing research into this town centre project.
We are informed that same questionnaire received some 692 submissions by the agreed closing date. However, with the population of Thurles standing at, give or take, some 7,682 souls (CSO 2019), perhaps the feedback could have been more enthusiastically received by those residents with I.T. skills.
However, those who did complete the questionnaire, highlighted the more obvious; ‘Heavy Traffic’, ‘Empty Shops’ and ‘High Unemployment’ as their main issues of concern, in relation to this most historic of town centre areas. [General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) no doubt prohibits the public from reading the submissions.]
Environmental consultancy LUC (landuse.co.uk), led by principal landscape architect Ms Emily Beedham, has now been commissioned by Tipperary County Council, to assist in creating a more vibrant Thurles town centre, killed off in the past mainly by parking charges introduced by the very same commissioning Tipperary County Council.
Of course very few of the submissions, while rightly highlighting concerns; offered real solutions to the concerns they raised.
In the silent video shown above, purporting to come from Tipperary County Council, [Note, as we go to press YouTube inform us that only 73 people have viewed same to date.], at present only two immediate questions come to mind: –
(1) Is the 1798 monument, erected in 1901, [View Here], going to be removed entirely?
(2) Where is it going to be reinstated, or are we giving it away, like the arch entrance to the Thurles Workhouse; the Market House Bell from the Hospital of the Assumption; the cast- iron water pump and stone drinking trough last seen in Cathedral Street, etc. etc.? Unconfirmed rumours have it that it will be confined to a carpark.
Perhaps the fate of this 1798 monument has been discussed by local elected Councillors and now one or more elected members might like to inform our readers regarding its planned future.
After all public feedback is high on the list of Tipperary Co. Council’s daily priorities.
Get the kids reading ‘Nature’s Web’ and support science and nature, while learning at home.
‘Nature’s Web’ is an exciting magazine for children, featuring interesting and informative news on nature and the environment.
Nature’s Web
Sherkin Island Marine Station carry out long-term monitoring programmes on the flora and fauna of Roaringwater Bay and its surrounding areas. The Station also aim to raise awareness of the marine environment in Ireland and help to introduce young people to nature. For more information visit http://www.sherkinmarine.ie/
‘Nature’s Web’ is free and the latest edition can be accessed by viewing HERE.
Contents include articles on the hermit crab; recipes for potato salad; information on teeth in the animal kingdom; puzzles; colouring pages and even a board game.
Previous issues can be accessed by viewing HERE.
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