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DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced the opening of the 2026/27 call for applications to the Water Quality Improvement Strand of the Environmental Challenge Fund Competition.

The grant is available to not-for-profit organisations and local councils to invest in projects that will deliver improvements in the local water environment, help connect people with the environment and encourage behavioural change.

Projects funded through the scheme are expected to commence in spring 2026 and conclude by February 2027. The funding will provide support for up to 85% of project costs, with eligible project budgets ranging from £5,000 to £30,000.

Introducing this year’s competition, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “This strand of NIEA’s Environmental Challenge Fund is delivering on my key priority of improving water quality and has provided £1.2million in support for groups and volunteers involved in 60 projects including river clean-ups, habitat schemes and catchment interventions over the past six years.

“I encourage eligible organisations to consider submitting an application through this scheme to deliver improvements in their local water environments, including Lough Neagh and its catchment areas.”

Andrew Bratton, Project Manager at Sea2it, explained how the Water Quality Improvement Strand funding has helped his organisation remove 2.7 tonnes of material from the River Bann and the River Roe in 2024/25.

He added: “It has allowed us to provide training for our volunteers on the identification and treatment of invasive species such as giant hogweed, which is another area of environmental concern.”

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