COMMUNITY water projects across West Cork are to benefit from funding of €106,492 to help protect and restore local rivers, streams, lakes and coastal areas.

Bandon Environmental Action Group is allocated €6,072 for the removal of riverbank invasives.

Bantry Community Marine Centre CLG receives €14,000 for its ecological assessment for Bantry Marine Activity Centre under the Blue Dot Futures scheme.

Cork River Alliance is to benefit from €5,643 in funding for river monitoring including pipe and contamination survey.

Cork Sub Aqua Club is allocated €14,826 for the protection and promotion of Oysterhaven and Kinsale Seagrass Beds.

Gougane Barra Angling Club gets €18,124 for lake restoration and weed removal; Schull Tidy Towns has been allocated €6,860 for river enhancement; Green Skibbereen CLG is in line for €16,397 and StreamScapes CLG gets €24,750.

Announcing the funding Minister Christopher O’Sullivan said: ‘With this investment, I am backing the people who know the land best, and know what it needs.’