€90 million funding released under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
Noel Harrington, FG TD for Cork South West, has welcomed the announcement made by The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan T.D, yesterday (24 April 2013),that €90 million funding is being released for the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
Deputy Harrington said that “The Leader programme is operated in West Cork by the West Cork Development Partnership, who carries out tremendous work, supporting both voluntary and business enterprise projects in the area. Projects in Tourism, Culture, Environmental & Heritage, Village Enhancements and Enterprise Creation & Development, who have already gotten funding from Leader have enhanced the economic, cultural and community aspects of West Cork and can be visible in every town and village. I would encourage any Entrepreneur or community activist, with a project idea, to make contact West Cork Development Partnership, who will advise, assist and give encouragement from the onset of this idea. Their knowledge and expertise are second to none. Their Website is very comprehensive www.wcdp.ie
“This funding announced yesterday, has the capacity, not only to facilitate access to sustainable employment opportunities in rural areas like West Cork, but also to help support sustainable communities and enhance rural economies for business creation and development into the future.”
Wild Atlantic Way – Update
Progress to date
Pic. Taken by Niall Duffy, West Cork Photo
Along with its project partners, Fáilte Ireland has been working on the Wild Atlantic Way for the past year and has made significant progress. Two key elements of the project, the Proposition & Brand and the Identification of the Route, have been finalised and we are now moving to the next stages of the project.
Stage 1: Proposition and Brand
A brand proposition is the public face of the brand – it’s what we say about the brand to its target markets. The central proposition of the Wild Atlantic Way is a coastal touring route between Kinsale on the southern end to the Inishowen Peninsula on the northern end. The Wild Atlantic Way proposition offers prospective visitors oopportunities to discover an intriguing convergence of land and sea along 2,500km’s of magnificent West of Ireland coastline. The longest defined coastal drive in the world, it’s wild and rugged natural beauty, unique ancient heritage, defiant settlements, creative natives and unique array of cultural events promise the visitor the journey of a lifetime.
During this stage of the project, the key target markets were also identified, what they want from the Wild Atlantic Way and how to communicate it to them. A brand identity for the Wild Atlantic Way has been developed.
Funding of €229k grant aided to Cork County Council for Harbours + Piers in West Cork
Fine Gael Deputy Noel Harrington welcomes the approval given by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to grant aid Cork County Council under the Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2013 in respect of the various harbours and piers in West Cork (see Table Below).
“These works will sustain economic activity in the marine, commercial and leisure sectors in each area which will in turn benefit the respective communities, with additional employment created towards the completion of each project”.
|
Location |
Description | Total Cost | Maximum
DAFM Contribution (75% of Total Cost) |
| Pallas & Schull Sheet piles | Accelerated Low Water Corrosion (ALWC) Remedial Measures at Pallas and Schull
|
€68,000 | €51,000 |
| Keelbeg Spooling Winch | Provision of Spooling Winch for stretching and measuring warps
|
€50,000 | €37,500 |
| Kilcatherine, Eyeries, Beara | Reconstruct damaged sea wall and deck improvements. Improve access, car parking
|
€34,000 | €25,500 |
| Travarra Pier, Castletownbere | Provision of toe-rails, mooring rings, ladders and repair of masonry and new abutment.
|
€27,000 | €20,250 |
| Keelbeg Power Points
|
Upgrading of Power Supply units at Keelbeg Pier
|
€20,000 | €15,000 |
| Courtmacsherry and Ballinglanna Slip Winches | Supply and installation of hand operated winches at Courtmacsherry and Ballinglanna
|
€20,000 | €15,000 |
| Dromard Castletownbere
|
Install safety toe rail, mooring rings and deck improvements
|
€6,000 | €4,500 |
| Dunworley Beach Access | Provision of concrete access roadway to beach
|
€52,000 | €39,000 |
| Coolmaine Sea Wall | Repair of seawall leading to Coolmaine Beach
|
€35,000 | €26,250 |
IARNRÓD ÉIREANN TO OFFER FREE TRIPS FOR COMMUNITY, VOLUNTARY & CHARITY GROUPS IN 2013
Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail has launched the 2013 programme for The Journey’s on Us, an initiative to support organisations and groups in the voluntary, community, sporting and charity sector.
“The Journey’s On Us”, will provide up to 100 groups with a free group travel return journey for up to 50 people per group during 2013, meaning 5,000 free journeys are on offer across any of the company’s services. The travel facilities will be ideal in particular for organisations bringing a group to a special event, or as part of a specific support to the members of the group which requires travel.
Voluntary organisations are the life blood of communities across the country. However, like everyone, their budgets have been cut. We know there are youth, sports, music, voluntary, charity and other groups in the community who would benefit greatly from being able to undertake initiatives which involve a travel cost, but have had to scale back. We in Iarnród Éireann, through The Journey’s On Us, want to do what we can to help such groups achieve their goals, and say thank you to the organisations which play such a vital role in the daily lives of communities.