Noonan announces new grant to capture Ireland's natural history

Irish naturists are encouraged to apply for a grant to capture and record Ireland's natural history. 

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D. today (February 27) welcomed applications for the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government’s grant scheme to ensure Ireland’s natural history is captured and recorded.

The scheme, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, aims to help established naturalists recording in Ireland to maintain and enhance their expertise in species identification, and to develop the next generation of natural history recorders. 

Grants are available for volunteer, unpaid recorders, or groups, societies and associations of recorders who have limited or no access to financial supports for their work.

This is the fifth year of the grant scheme and it has supported over 70 projects to date. 

Grants under the scheme in the past have covered the entire range of Irish natural history including site recording of biological groups (e.g. moths, other terrestrial invertebrates, bats, plants and marine organisms), support for publications and websites and support to purchase specialist equipment.

In 2022, a record number of grants received funding offers and these included:

• Surveys of rookeries in County Laois 
• Funding towards the publication of the Flora of County Wexford 
• Bee identification courses in County Wicklow 
• Acoustic survey of Nathusius’ Pipistrelle bat in County Cavan 
• Trialling non-invasive survey techniques for Irish Stoat 
• Insect survey in Killarney National Park 
• Skate and ray surveys of Tralee Bay 

The data generated by these recording exercises is utilised by the NPWS to inform its understanding of the distribution and ecology of many species and to assess their status. In turn, it informs advice on nature conservation objectives and practical measures to protect species and habitats.

Speaking about the news, Minister Noonan said, "I’m delighted to announce that this popular scheme is open to applications again this year and I hope we see plenty of applicants from all over Waterford. We’ve seen some great work done in local communities through this scheme and I’m proud to support the work of our specialist recorders with these grants.

"I hope, given the increased time people have spent engaging with nature over recent years that more nature enthusiasts will apply for this funding and join this vibrant network.

"This scheme also supports the work of the NPWS in recording many aspects of individual species and provides great value to our Department in establishing useful data to support conservation.” 

Applications should be submitted by 5pm on March 31, 2023. 

The form and further details can be found at https://www.npws.ie/news/npws- grants-small-recording- projects-2023

Application forms will ONLY be accepted by email submission to biodiversitypolicy@housing.gov.ie.