The European Investment Fund and Microfinance Ireland have signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting micro-enterprises and self-employed entrepreneurs in Ireland. The guarantee is given under Progress Microfinance, which is managed by the European Investment Fund on behalf of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. Microfinance Ireland can provide loans of less than...

The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, announced on 17 December 2012 that a grant scheme will be available for householders whose septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems need repairing or updating following inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. Householders will need to register their system by 1 February 2013...

Options for modernising the funding of environmental protection and improvement in Scotland were outlined in a new consultation launched on 11 October 2012. The key reason presented for changing the way SEPA is funded is to help maximise the benefits of the better environmental regulation approach. The consultation from SEPA and the Scottish Government looks...

The Department of Agricuture, Food and the Marine has announced the launch of the 2013 Bioenergy Scheme to grant aid the planting of willow and miscanthus crops. The Bioenergy Schemes have supported the planting of some 3,250 hectares of energy crops since 2007. The Scheme is now open for applications and interested farmers can apply for...

The new Enterprise Ireland €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for the West Region has been launched. The Competitive Feasibility Fund Can provide up to €25,000 per project. Is aimed at supporting feasibility studies of start-up ideas with job-creating potential for the West. Is focused growth-oriented businesses with the potential to move into export markets. Is now open...

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Research and Innovation has launched a competition to find the most innovative public authorities in Europe. I Up to nine prizes of €100,000 will be awarded to successful, already running public initiatives that benefit citizens, firms or the education and research sector. The purpose of the prize is to encourage...

The new Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) will run from 2014 to 2020, with a planned budget of €2.5bn (current prices). The Objectives are: Facilitating access to finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Creating an environment favourable to business creation and growth Encouraging an entrepreneurial culture in...

A new report on how Member States manage their municipal waste shows startling differences across the EU. The report grades the 27 Member States against 18 criteria, using green, orange and red flags in areas such as total waste recycled, pricing of waste disposal, and infringements of European legislation. The resulting scoreboard forms part of...

The Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at a local level. Projects are recommended for funding by local authorities following an open call for applications. A total of 490 projects have been funded this year. These projects are co-funded by the Department and Local Authorities...

The European Commission has announced the final and biggest ever set of calls for proposals for research under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). €8.1 billion will support projects and ideas that will boost Europe’s competitiveness and tackle issues such as human health, protecting the environment and finding new solutions to growing challenges linked to urbanisation and...