Over €2 million available in funding for coastal communities in Limerick

FISHERIES Local Actions Groups (FLAG) Coastal Community Development Scheme is open for applications in Limerick and Kerry.

The Fisheries Local Action Groups are a community-led local development initiative, whose primary focus is to enhance the economic opportunities and social sustainability of coastal areas, many of which are dependent on fisheries and aquaculture. 

FLAG funding is potentially available to individuals, Small Scale Coastal Fishing and other fishing vessel owners, micro or small enterprises in the Blue Economy, charities, community groups and fisheries collectives, who propose projects that meet the objectives of the local development strategies. 

Over €2 million in funding has been allocated to the seven Irish FLAGs this year. 

The scheme is open for applications until Tuesday, May 20 for potential applicants from Kerry and Limerick. 

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Eligible projects must be located within 10km of the coast and those which can be completed by October 31. 

Only projects that can be completed by 31 October 2025 will be considered eligible under this round. 

The FLAG South West area comprises the coastal zone of Limerick and Kerry, with a total population of 73,719 within the 10km coastal strip. 

Applicants can apply for funding for projects that will not meet this deadline under later calls. 

Large ports in the area include Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre, Fenit Harbour and Foynes, which support the scale and distribution of fishing and aquaculture dependent businesses along the coast of Kerry and the Shannon estuary. 

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Along the coast there are small fisheries located at piers and harbours targeting brown crab, velvet and green crab, whelk and nephrops, scallop, shrimp and line caught fish, gill netting and trawling. 

The seafood industry has a considerable economic impact in the South West region especially in more peripheral areas. 

Applications for funding under this Scheme must be made via the new online BIM portal for grants. It will be a competitive call – meaning if an applicant is deemed eligible, they will then be ranked according to the criteria set out by their respective FLAG board and funding will be allocated to the top-ranking projects in order, until all funds are allocated. 

The Scheme remains open until Tuesday 20 May at 11.59pm. 

All information relating to the Scheme and contact details for FLAG and Regional Development officers is available on www.bim.ie