Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Company Closures.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (24)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

83 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which he has responded to the call by an association (details supplied) that his Department should become more involved in supports for Inishowen, in the aftermath of several recent factory closures. [28016/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department provides funding and supports to the Inishowen area from a number of sources. The Inishowen partnership board delivers the local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, in its area. This programme aims to counter disadvantage and promote equality and social and economic partnership. Funding of €695,524 was allocated to the partnership under LDSIP in 2004 to support actions under the three submeasures of the programme — services for the unemployed, community development and community-based youth initiatives. Inishowen Partnership also operates a jobs club in three separate locations in Inishowen which provides a range of options for people who are unemployed.

With regard to the community development programme, CDP, Action Inishowen is funded by my Department at a level of €92,000 per annum to concentrate on social development throughout the Inishowen peninsula. It is part of a strong network of projects all over the county, which act as community development resource projects or centres in communities affected by high unemployment. The target groups identified by Action Inishowen include the elderly, youth, long-term unemployed, early school leavers, children of separated, divorced and-or deceased parents, lone parents, people with disabilities and low income farm families. Under the scheme of grants for locally based community projects, funding was recently announced to the following five projects in Inishowen:

Donegal CPAB

1,680

Education

Inishowen Women’s Information Network

3,330

Computer Training

Inishowen Women’s Information Network

5,500

Training

Moville & District Mental Health Assoc

5,000

Computer Training

Muff Comm. Development Co Op Ltd. MCD

5,520

Equipment

Six DEDs in the Inishowen peninsula are included in the CLÁR programme for disadvantaged rural areas. Those areas are benefiting this year under the class III roads, local improvement roads scheme, flashing amber safety lights at schools, ESB single to three phase electricity conversion, village enhancement and school outdoor play facilities measures of the programme to the value of €90,000 CLÁR funding. Under my Department's rural development fund, Inishowen Rural Development Limited has received 80% of the cost of employing a development worker and related administrative expenses for almost two years, up to a maximum of €40,000 per annum, to help the Malin Head community group to develop a tourist attraction for its area. Inishowen Partnership Company Limited, based in Buncrana, is also receiving 80% of the costs of providing a training programme to preserve traditional skills and talents, up to a maximum of €26,000. My Department also provides funding to Inishowen Rural Development Limited under the LEADER programmes to encourage the implementation of high quality and innovative strategies in rural communities, including rural enterprise projects. Inishowen Rural Development Limited was allocated €2.32 million under the LEADER+ community initiative and €730,000 under the LEADER national rural development programme for the period 2001 to 2006.

Barr
Roinn