SHORTLISTED PROJECTS FOR PLANNING AWARDS 2020 
With a strong level of interest in two new categories – ‘Climate Change’ and ‘Planning Workplace of the Year’ – 34 projects have been shortlisted across seven categories for the Irish Planning Awards 2020. IRELAND-WALES TOURISM TAKES THE CELTIC ROUTE
Wicklow County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Wexford County Council are collaborating with their Welsh colleagues in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, as part of an innovative €1.9m Celtic Routes Project to jointly boost tourism in both regions. ‘LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR’ AWARD FOR FINGAL
Fingal County Council was named ‘Local Authority of the Year at the 16th Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, and also picked up two category awards for ‘Best Practice in Citizen Engagement’ and ‘Festival of the Year’. ICSH AWARDS FOCUS ON PERMANENT HOUSING PROJECTS
Focus Housing Association was the Overall Winner of the ICSH Awards 2019 for the rapid delivery of its permanent housing project on John’s Lane West in Dublin 8, and the judging panel believes the development has the potential to be replicated throughout the country.
COMMUNITY ENERGY UPGRADES GRANTED €20M
A series of community energy upgrades will be funded to the tune of €20m this year, while Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) programmes will also ring-fence funding to deliver group retrofits to scale up climate action in communities throughout the country. BERLIN SHOWCASE FOR NINE IRISH PROJECTS
Nine impactful and diverse Irish projects reached the final of the Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Awards 2019, presented in Berlin on 4 December. And despite not taking home any awards, it was an opportunity for Ireland’s politicians to share local initiatives with their European counterparts.