FLAG Coastal Communities Development Scheme

This scheme is a community-led approach to local development implemented under the Seafood Development Programme, and jointly funded by the Irish Government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and aligned with Union Priority 3 (UP3) of the EMFAF Regulation:

‘Enabling a sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and inland areas, and fostering the development of fishing and aquaculture communities.’ 

Seven Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) will support the implementation of the local development fund of €15m over the programme from 2025- 2029 through selecting projects that align with their Local Development Strategies (LDS).

The scheme will be open for applications from midday on 25th November 2025 until 5pm on 29th January 2026.

All projects must be completed and claims for payment submitted no later than 31st October 2026 and in line with specific grantee timelines as detailed in the Letter of Offer. This call is primarily focused on projects which can complete in 2026 but any larger projects which need a longer time to complete will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This call is competitive, meaning that all eligible applications will be scored and ranked. In the case where the scheme is oversubscribed, funding will be allocated based on ranking. As budgets are limited even projects that receive a high ranking may not receive funding.

All projects must align with the scheme objectives and with the relevant FLAG region’s Local Development Strategy (LDS).