Westmeath Community Development Ltd.

An evening with David Coleman

David Coleman, psychologist presenter of RTE’s 21^st Century Baby and Families in Trouble came to Mullingar Park Hotel on the 19^th August and gave a practical and witty presentation on parenting issues.

The Event was organised by local Public Health Nurses in conjunction with Catriona Corcoran from Mullingar Community Mothers.

The Community Mothers had a stand promoting the work of the Community Mothers and it was well received by the large number of parents who attended on the night which numbered over 300 people.

All funds raised on the night went to the Lesotho Building Project in Southern Africa.

On Saturday 31^st May 2008, the updated facilities at Mullingar Sailing Club were officially opened by Mr Joe Potter, Chief Executive Officer, Westmeath Community Development. Also attending were Mr Dermot Leavy, Board Chairman, along with board members Paddy Donnelly and Dan McCarthy and staff member, Anne Marie Taaffe.

In his address of welcome Mr Keith Pinder, Commodore, Mullingar Sailing Club outlined the history of the club. He stated that in 2002, the club were successful in securing Lotto funding to start the present improvements but it was through Leader Funding, provided by Westmeath Community Development, that the club facilities were brought up to their present very high standards. So successful were these improvements that the facility is now in great demand for the running of regattas and these have to be curtailed to two per year. Concluding his address, Keith thanked the members of Westmeath Community Development for their help and assistance throughout the application to completion process. Mr Potter thanked Keith for his kind words and stated that he was very pleased to be able to help Mullingar Sailing Club with the help of Leader funding as he felt it was being put to good use.

At the opening of Mullingar Sailing Club’s new facility are, from left, Cllr. Dan McCarthy, Anne Marie Taaffe, Dermot Leavy, Keith Pinder, Joe Potter, Paddy Donnelly and John Smyth.

Minister Ó Cuív launches the largest ever rural development package
Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

In May 2008 , Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs launched the LEADER elements of the new Rural Development Programme at a reception in European Union House.

Under the Programme, funding of €425.4 million will be provided, almost treble the amount available in the last Programme (2000-2006), and the largest ever package for rural development. The funding will be channelled through Local Action Groups to support and facilitate the continued development of rural communities all over Ireland.

Advertisements will appear in all the national newspapers as well as the Irish Farmers' Journal, and Foinse over the coming days, calling for proposals from Local Action Groups to administer this funding. They will be asked to submit business plans for their local areas that will be evaluated by independent evaluators.

Each of these groups will distribute funding to community groups and individuals in rural areas for the range of activities to be funded under this Programme. These activities are varied and include, diversification into non-agricultural activities, support for business creation, encouragement of tourism activities, basic services for the economy and rural population, village renewal and development, conservation and upgrading of rural heritage and training and information.

Announcing the funding, Minister Ó Cuív said: "I am delighted to announce the commencement of the selection process for Local Action Groups to deliver the LEADER elements of the new Rural Development Programme. The level of funding available has increased significantly since the last Programme, as has the percentage of grant funding in many cases, particularly for community activities. For example, in some cases, the rate of aid for capital projects has increased from 50% in the last Programme to 75% under this new Programme. This will give community groups and individuals in rural areas more flexibility in making their valuable contributions to the continuing development of rural Ireland."

Michael Ludlow, Chairman of Comhar Leader na hÉireann, thanked the Minister and Department staff for for securing funding levels for this Programme that will allow LEADER groups to continue to contribute in a meaningful way to the development of Rural Ireland. "Recent independent analysis has shown that LEADER companies in Ireland have attracted 5 times the public funding provided under the last Rural Development Programme. It is our pledge to the Government and to our rural constituencies to continue to maintain this level of funding and efficiently manage a potential 1.7 billion investment in rural Ireland over the next 5 years," he said.

Rural Development Policy in the EU promotes sustainable development in Europe's rural areas addressing economic, social and environmental concerns and is an increasingly important component of the Common Agriculture Policy. In this context the European Commission approved the Irish Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in July of 2007.

The programme is divided into 4 Axes and co-managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Axis 1 and 2) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht (Axis 3 and 4). Axes 1 and 2 provide funding for improvement of the agricultural sector, environment and the countryside. Axes 3 and 4 provide funding for projects under the broad heading of Quality of life in Rural Areas and diversification of the rural economy.

Of the €425.4 million, €234 million will come from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and €191 million from national exchequer. The Programme will be delivered through the LEADER approach, an innovative 'bottom up' approach that encourages rural areas to explore ways to become or remain competitive, to make the most of their assets and to overcome whatever challenges they may face. This approach is community driven and is managed through the Local Action Groups that will be chosen through the selection process being launched today.

Issued by the Press & Information Office at the Dept. of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Tel/Teil: 01 647 3130
Fax/Facs: 01 667 0826
Layla de Cogan Chin 087 6842755
Email / Ríomhphost: eolas@pobail.ie
Web/Gréasán: www.pobail.ie

09.07.08 Government announces over €5.5 million in Dormant Accounts Funding to address disadvantage

The Government has announced the allocation of over €5.5 million in funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund and €1.2m from the RAPID Leverage Fund for just under 200 projects tackling disadvantage among children and older people.

169 projects to enhance school dining facilities and canteen equipment have been allocated funding of over €4m (€3.1 from the Dormant Accounts Fund and €1.2m from the RAPID Leverage Fund). This funding will enable schools participating in the DEIS programme, and schools in or serving RAPID areas, to enhance their school dining facilities helping to support children’s learning and development in disadvantaged schools.

Dormant Accounts funding of €400,000 has been allocated to 4 projects under the Children’s Playbus Measure. These mobile education and training centres improve the quality of life and well-being of children through play and parental development in disadvantaged and isolated areas, thus supporting the principles underpinning the National Play Policy.

€655,944 in Dormant Accounts Funding has been allocated to a flagship project to provide health related and care services to children with life-limiting, life-threatening and long-term conditions

Over €1.5m in Dormant Accounts funding has been allocated to 23 projects supporting older persons. These projects enhance the ability of older persons to live independently in their own communities.

09.07.08 Government announces over €5.5 million in Dormant Accounts Funding to address disadvantage

Department of Social and Family Affairs