The Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) is funded by my Department through the Climate Action Fund. This programme aims to support and empower communities, in partnership with their Local Authority, to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way and thereby to contribute to national climate and energy targets.
Strand 1 of the CCAP will provide €53.9M in funding across two phases to Local Authorities to partner with community groups to run projects that will contribute to national climate and energy targets. It provides an administration contribution to each Local Authority towards the cost of a Community Climate Action Officer (CCAO) in each Local Authority to liaise with grantees and assist them in ensuring project completion.
Under the first Phase of CCAP, which will complete shortly, County Donegal received an allocation of €699,000 project funding and brought forward projects with a value of €697,306. €333,953 of this has been drawn down by community groups to date. Under this phase of the programme, 20 sports clubs and community organisations around County Donegal received grants to expand their access to alternative energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels through solar PV installations and retrofits to community buildings. These projects included installation of Solar PV, community energy efficiency upgrades, and an EV Charger in Lárionad Achmhainí Nádúrtha (LAN Ctr), Falcarragh and installation of Solar PV, community energy efficiency upgrades, and LED lighting in Áisleann Rann na Feirste, Annagry.
In October 2025, I announced a second phase of the CCAP under which community projects in County Donegal would receive another €699,000 of funding for projects running to the end of 2027. It is expected that this phase of the programme will support a similar level of projects pursuing renewable energy and reduction of reliance on fossil fuels.
In addition to this, Donegal County Council has received a commitment from my Department to continue the administrative contribution from the Climate Action Fund in support of their Community Climate Action Officer, until the current second phase of CCAP concludes at the end of 2027.
The potential for further allocations of funding to local authorities, including Donegal County Council, from the Climate Action Fund will depend on assessment of the impact of the CCAP and the level of funding required from projects submitted as part of the current second Phase.
In relation to energy poverty and access to renewable energy, Budget 2026 allocated a record €641 million for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community retrofitting schemes, with €340 million going towards the Warmer Homes Scheme, with a target of 11,500 fully funded home upgrades for 2026.
The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the SEAI on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.
The Warmer Homes Scheme is available to owner-occupied properties, based on the householder being in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection (DSP) income supports.
The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. This Government has followed through on this commitment and introduced a suite of measures to help households and businesses deal with the cost of energy.
