550. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the environmental partnership fund, the amount of the available funding in 2013 that was allocated to Cork projects; what those projects were; if a similar scheme will be available to communities this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/14]

The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, which has operated since 1997, promotes sustainable development by assisting small-scale environmental projects at local level. These projects involve partnership arrangements between local authorities and various local groups, including community groups, schools and environmental NGOs.

My Department provided total funding of €400,000 under the Scheme in 2013, to 669 projects throughout the country, including funding of €10,500 to projects in the Cork City Council area and funding of €29,250 to projects in the Cork County Council area. This funding was matched by an equivalent amount from the relevant local authorities.

Full details of the 2014 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund Scheme were published in the national press and on my Department's website on 6 June 2014; details are available at the following weblink; http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/LocalAgenda21/EnvironmentalPartnershipFund/.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the current Scheme was extended by a further week, to 7 July 2014.