Community Benefit FUND

Click here – Sliabh Bawn Community Benefit Fund 2018 Guidelines to see guidlines.

Sliabh Bawn DAC commit to:

  • Always being open and communicating proactively with the local community throughout the project and responding to community needs.
  • Improving local amenity and recreation for all visitors to Sliabh Bawn.
  • Protection of the natural environment with careful management of replanted trees replacing those removed during construction.
  • Supporting local community projects via the Sliabh Bawn Community Fund.

What have we done so far?

Community Fund

Notification for Sliabh Bawn website of Community Benefit Fund 2018 Call for Applications

The 2018 Sliabh Bawn Community Benefit Fund is now open for applications and will close on January 31st, 2019.

The fund is available to community and voluntary groups, non-profit groups or organisations with a charitable status.  The Sliabh Bawn Community Benefit Fund will prioritise projects and initiatives that support and benefit the area surrounding Sliabh Bawn, in the following categories:

  • Recreation
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Culture and Heritage
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Tourism

To apply, please follow this LINK.

 

Schools, sports clubs, tidy towns committees and many more have all been part of the 55+recipients of funding through the Community Benefit Fund in 2015-2017.  The value of the fund is €87,000 per annum which is indexed linked and available for distribution amongst community projects for the lifetime of the wind farm (approx. 25 years).  You can find full details of beneficiary projects HERE.  If you would like to learn more about how the fund was administered from 2015-2017, click here.

The administration of the CB Fund is changing for 2018 awards.   An expanded management panel will be established including local community representatives, SECAD and Sliabh Bawn Power DAC.  This natural and timely approach was a key recommendation of the recent review of the fund.  We are delighted to announce that work has begun in earnest to put this new panel in place.

Currently the fund focuses on recreation, health & wellbeing, culture & heritage, environmental sustainability and tourism.  The new panel will allow community representatives to decide if that focus should be broadened.  SECAD will continue to provide administration and governance as before in addition to requested capacity building programs for those residents interested in volunteering their time.

Recreation Facilities

In September 2017, the world class recreation facilities at Sliabh Bawn were publically opened. These trails provide more than 28km of way-marked trails for walking, running and horse riding. Visitor numbers have risen sharply, by more than 80% since completion, which we warmly welcome.

Facilities include;

  • Six looped, way-marked trails for walking and fitness.
  • Monastery track upgrade with new links and signage
  • Equestrian Trail – the first ever designated equestrian trail on Coillte land
  • Two km Trim Trail with outdoor exercise equipment
  • Raised viewing platform close to the summit with interpretive signage
  • Picnic Area
  • Upgraded car parking

See the Sliabh Bawn Recreation map here