#InlandWaters - In support of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan 2016-2020, the Heritage in the Community Grants Scheme for 2018 is now open for applications.

A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community-based heritage projects which compliment or fulfil the delivery of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan along the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann, Royal Canal, Shannon, Shannon-Erne and the Ulster Canal (Upper Lough Erne to Clones).

Applications will be considered from communities seeking assistance for projects related to inland waterways heritage, including data collection and research; good heritage practice in managing sites, collections, objects and more; and supporting fresh approaches and initiatives that link heritage to communities, promoting active engagement.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications, by email or post, is Wednesday 31 January 2018. Further details on the Heritage Grant Scheme are available on the Waterways Ireland website.

#Seafood - Marine Minister Michael Creed has announced the award of a further €1,324,040 in grants to 19 seafood enterprises in nine different counties under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme for the seafood sector.

The grant awards will support total investment of €3.5 million in 2017. The grants are co-funded by the Exchequer and EU and subject to terms and conditions.

Minister Creed said: “In March, I announced EMFF grant awards of €1.8 million to seafood enterprises. I am delighted to now announce a further €1.3 million in EMFF grant awards to 19 seafood enterprises.

“It is especially welcome to see that aquaculture enterprises are dominating this round of grant awards. Grants of almost €1 million are being offered to 10 aquaculture enterprises. Nine of these will further develop our oyster production, while the other concerns mussels.

Taken together with the earlier awards in March, this means grant offers of nearly €2 million have already been made this year to 18 aquaculture enterprises and are supporting €5 million in aquaculture capital investments.

The minister added that the EMFF Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme “remains opens for applications and I am optimistic that we will see yet more aquaculture projects coming forward as the year progresses.

“The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme supports capital investments in licensed aquaculture sites to grow our production and mitigate environmental impact. Our National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development is aiming to sustainably grow our production by 45,000 tonnes and these 2017 projects are welcome contributions towards that target.”

Grant approvals - Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme

*         Subject to confirmation of SME status 

Grant approvals - Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme

*         Subject to confirmation of SME status

Grant approvals - Seafood Scaling & New Market Development Scheme

Grant approvals - Seafood Innovation & Business Planning Scheme

#Rowing: Ireland’s high performance director, Morten Espersen has announced that four grants will be available to rowers who produce exceptional performances on ergometers (rowing machines). The grants, of €5,000, will be for world class times on Concept 2. The performances needed are: Men, Open 5 minutes 35 seconds; Men, Lightweight 5:54. Women, Open 6:23; Women, Lightweight 6:53.

 There will also be four travel scholarships for taking part in the ‘Crash Bs’ in Boston in February, for those who have achieved outstanding performance(s) at Irish Indoor Rowing Championships in Limerick. The evaluation panel will consist of Espersen, Joe Cantillon, the organiser of the Irish Indoor Championships and Alex Dunne of Concept 2.

Terms and Conditions:

                  Athletes must have full Rowing Ireland registration and be part of an affiliated Irish Club under Rowing Ireland.

                  The process is part of the Rowing Ireland on water trial process in 2016/2017.

                  Four Scholarships to be contested in Limerick (Irish Indoor Championships).

                  World Class times to be done at Limerick Irish Indoor Championship, Crash B or by appointment with HPD at NRC after Indoors.

                  Open window for World Class times: 20th October 2016 to 1st April 2017

                  If more than four athletes achieve the World Class times, the 4 best are picked with per centage list times to be achieved.

                  The Performance Strategy applies fully as weight management for lightweights

                  Only certified Concept 2 ergometers by HPD

                  HPD reserves the right to make all final decisions.

#SportsCapital - Sailing, paddling and diving clubs across 20 counties will share in the latest €35 million allocation to local projects under the Sports Capital Programme.

Among the biggest beneficiaries under the latest grants are Cullaun Sailing Club in Co Clare, which receives €105,000; Cork's Phoenix Kayak Club and Skibbereen Rowing Club, getting €120,000 and €100,000 respectively; Waterford Harbour Sailing Club's €75,000 grant; and €80,000 for Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club.

Dublin and Cork counties also boast the largest share of individual allocations, with 17 and 15 respectively.

Speaking at yesterday's launch, Minister for Sport Michael Ring said: "The Sports Capital Programme ensures that as many clubs and organisations as possible have the facilities and equipment they need to allow the maximum number of people to get involved in a wide variety of sports...

"By investing in community facilities, these grants take the pressure off clubs and groups to fundraise themselves to provide for the upgrading and building of premises and allows coaches and other volunteers to concentrate on growing the sports they know and love."

Recipient clubs and organisations related to sailing, boating, canoeing and kayking, angling, diving and other marine and river activities are listed below:

Co Clare
Cullaun Sailing Club €105,000
Killaloe Sailing Club €4,000

Co Cork
Ardfield Rathbarry Galleyflash Rowing Club €10,000
Bantry Bay Sailing Club €9,000
Cork Boat Club €34,000
Cove Sailing Club €10,000
Cork Sub Aqua Club €40,000
Glandore Harbour Yacht Club €8,000
Kilmacsimon Swimming & Rowing Club €3,500
Kinsale Yacht Club €13,000
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club €18,000
Phoenix Kayak Club €120,000
Royal Cork Yacht Club €43,000
Rushbrooke Rowing Club €7,000
Shandon Boat Club €18,000
Skibbereen Rowing Club €100,000
Sunday's Well Boating and Tennis Club €13,000
West Cork Kayaking Club €12,000
Whitegate Yawl Rowing & Swimming Club €7,000

Co Donegal
Irish Water Safety Donegal Surf Lifesaving Club €15,000

Co Dublin
12th Port Sandycove Canoeing Club €18,842
5th Port Dollymount Seac Scouts €14,000
Curragh Sub Aqua Club €21,643
Dalkey Scubadivers €55,420
Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club €22,475
Howth Sea Angling Club €21,250
Neptune Rowing Club €10,625
Rush Sailing Club €60,750
Sailing in Dublin Club €7,000
Skerries Sailing Club €6,080
St Michael's Rowing Club, Dun Laoghaire €22,625
Sutton Dinghy Club €24,950
National Yacht Club €39,887
Royal St George Yacht Club €67,763
Viking Sub Aqua club €6,665

Co Galway
Clifden Boat CLub €24,000
Friends of St Josephs Rowing Club €10,000
Galway Bay Sailing Club Ltd €42,000
Galway Kayak Club €18,000
Tribesmen Rowing Club €31,045

Co Kerry
Fossa Rowing Club €15,000
Kerry Canoe Club - Killorglin €18,000
Portmagee Rowing Club €12,000

Co Kildare
Kilcullen Canoe Club €18,243

Co Laois
Laois Kayak and Canoe Club €8,000
Woodenbridge Paddlers Association €5,000

Co Limerick
Limerick and District Anglers Association €20,000
Limerick Sub Aqua Dive Club €13,000

Co Longford
Abbeyshrule Canoe Club €8,000
Lough Ree Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit €10,000

Co Louth
Co Louth Committee Irish Water Safety €7,000
Drogheda Sub Aqua Club €28,000

Co Mayo
Bellacragher Bay Boat Club €15,000
Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club €40,000

Co Meath
Omega Sub Aqua Club €16,000
Ribbontail Paddlers Canoe Club €5,000
Trim Canoe Club €6,000

Co Offaly
Shannonside Sub Aqua Club €29,000
Tullamore Canoe Club €3,000

Co Sligo
Sligo Rowing Club €10,000

Co Tipperary
Cahir Rowing Club €22,000
Clonmel Rowing Club €57,000
Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club €13,000

Co Waterford
Cappoquin Salmon & Trout Anglers Association €10,000
Waterford Boat Club €20,832
Waterford Harbour Sailing Club €75,000

Co Westmeath
Athlone Boat Club €15,000
Lough Ree Yacht Club €20,000

Co Wexford
New Ross Boat Club €60,000
Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club €80,000
Wexford Sub Aqua Club €6,000

Co Wicklow
Arklow Rowing Club €24,750
Bray Rowing Club €5,223
Bray Sailing Club €5,921
Greystones Sailing Club €20,669

The full list is available as a PDF to read or download HERE.

The announcement comes as the Federation of Irish Sport releases its manifesto for Ireland to deliver on its sporting potential, which includes a restoration of sport funding to pre-2008 levels.

#OLYMPICS - Yesterday Ireland's Olympic hopefuls celebrated recognition of their success in the 2012 round of funding.

But cuts to the budget of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) have prompted a "major" review of high performance programmes from 2013 onwards, the Irish Independent reports.

Finbarr Kirwan, director of high performance at the ISC, said: "Changes are coming, things are tight and we will have to make strategic cuts in the next two years."

The result could be fewer grant awards of lesser value for athletes, as Olympic qualification standards are set to get tougher from here on out.

The two tiers below 'podium class' - in which individuals receive awards of €20,000 and €12,000 respectively - are expected to be hardest hit in the review.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, canoeing's Eoin Rheinisch, swimmer Grainne Murphy and sailors Annalise Murphy, Peter O'Leary and David Burrows each received the top level of funding of €40,000 each, which is on a par with last year's support.

The Irish Independent has more on the story HERE.

#ANGLING - The public fishing pond at Darndale is "crying out for help" after an infestation of curly weed, The Irish Times reports.

A public meeting to discuss the issue recently heard that the invasive plant has spread throughout the entire pond, making casting all but impossible.

“We have a catchment of some 3,000 youngsters and adults who are deprived of fishing in their locality," said Brian Conneely of Sphere 17 Youth Service. "It’s a sad state of affairs.”

The meeting also heard of a possible solution to the problem, with Dr Joe Caffrey of Inland Fisheries Ireland suggesting a covering of jute or sacking to kill off the weed and allow the growth of native plants - a plan that appears to be working in Lough Corrib.

Costing is the issue, however, with such a jute priced at around €5,000. Maryann Harris of Dublin City Council's parks division said she was exploring grants to fund the project.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.