Community Benefit

walkers_community_benefit

Sliabh Bawn Power DAC (SBPD) are committed to:

  • Being open and communicating proactively with the local community throughout the project and responding to community needs that arise
  • Improving local amenity and recreation
  • Supporting the local economy: Coillte and its construction team are committed to supporting local businesses, for example when purchasing fuel for machinery, raw materials for construction or when booking accommodation
  • Protecting the environment by replanting trees to replace those removed from Doughill Forest
  • Supporting local community projects

The Sliabh Bawn Community Benefit Scheme will provide the following for the local community:-

  • Significant investment in leisure and recreation facilities at Doughill Forest on Sliabh Bawn Mountain;
  • A Community Fund – totalling €87,000 (index linked) each year over the 25 year lifetime of the wind farm to benefit local projects and initiatives.

Recreation Plan

Significant investment will be made to develop leisure and recreation facilities at Doughill Forest on Sliabh Bawn. Some sections of recreation works have commenced and the remaining sections will be constructed in 2017.

The following recreational amenities will be developed:

  • Six Looped Trails for walking and fitness
  • Monastery Track – improving and linking parts of the Monastery Track
  • Equestrian Trail
  • Trim Trail with outdoor exercise equipment
  • Raised Viewing Platform with interpretative signage
  • Picnic Area
  • Car Parking

See Sliabh Bawn recreation map.

Community Fund

In addition, Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm operates a community fund which will be made available every year for the 25 year operational lifetime of the wind farm.

The review of applicants for the second year of the fund is now complete and we are happy to announce that the selected recipients are; Lisonuffy Cemetery Committee, Sliabh Bawn History Committee, Ballyleague Village Renewal, St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Cloontuskert Tidy Towns Association, Clooncagh National School Board of Management, Parents Association of Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Kilglass Tarmonbarry Scout Group, Ballyleague Men’s Shed, Scramogue/Tarmonbarry Community Walkway at St Barry’s GAA Club, Lough Ree Sub Aqua search and Rescue unit, DARA Tarmonbarry, Strokestown Co-Operative Community Centre Limited, Sliabh Ban Community Group, 12th Roscommon Scouts / Lough Keel Scouts, Cloontuskert National School and the Irish Heritage Trust.

In addition to the above awards, a further 7 groups will receive the second year of funding based on multi-annual grants that were awarded in year one of the fund. The 7 Multi annual grants are for:

  • The Hub Community Café
  • Ballagh National School
  • St Faithleachs GAA Club
  • Ballyfeeny National School
  • Strokestown Community Playschool Ltd
  • Strokestown Community Development Association
  • Lough Ree North Angling Club

The total amount allocated for 2016 fund including multi annual grants is €93,698

Details for the third round of funding will be announced in the coming weeks and we look forward to seeing the progress of this year’s projects in the local area.

Community Fund – Who will benefit?

The Community Fund will prioritise projects and initiatives that support and benefit the area surrounding Sliabh Bawn Mountain.

Community Fund – Who can apply?

The fund is available to community and voluntary groups, Not for Profit groups or organisations with a charitable status. A key criteria is that the fund is used to benefit the local community as a whole.

Community Fund – What type of projects/activities will we fund?

  • Recreation:
    Funds are available to community groups and organisations to develop community-based sport and recreation projects/activities.
  • Health & Wellbeing:
    Funds are available to groups and organisations to run projects/activities that will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the local area.
  • Culture and Heritage:
    Funds are available to community groups and organisations for projects/activities that promote cultural awareness and preserve the local heritage.
  • Environmental Sustainability:
    Funds are available to groups and organisations to enhance the local natural and built environment for community centred projects/activities and energy efficiency schemes.
  • Tourism:
    Funds are available to community groups and organisations to develop new and strengthen existing tourism products, including improving marketing and visitor servicing with the aim of increasing the contribution tourism makes to the local economy.

bars_community_benefit

Community Fund – Application Process

The fund is directly operated and administered by Sliabh Bawn Power DAC (SBPD) with the support of Grant Making Organisation, SECAD Ltd.

SECAD Ltd has been appointed to act as a grant making organisation overseeing the management, administration, and delivery of the Community Fund on behalf of Sliabh Bawn Power DAC (SBPD). We welcome and encourage funding proposals from local community groups, and SECAD Ltd will provide necessary support to the projects throughout the application process.

You can find out more about the Sliabh Bawn Community Fund by contacting SECAD Ltd
Tel: 021 461 3432
Email: sliabhbawn@secad.ie

horses_community_benefit