The Chairperson of DLDC, which administers Leader and other community development programmes across most of Donegal says 2014 will open with immediate challenges.
However, in an End of Year Statement, Jim Slevin says the company will not be lacking in its dedication to local social and economic development in Donegal.
In its End of Year Statement, Donegal Local Development Company says over 200 projects were supported under the Leader programme in 2013. The spending target for the year was 2.8 million euro, and that was exceeded, with 3 million being spent. That figure rises to 5 million when private and matched funding is taken into account.
The absorbtion of Gaeltacht projects into DLDC was a major success, and that will continue into next year.
80 people are employed under the Rural Social Scheme and 220 under the Tus (Toos) scheme, described as one of the year’s biggest success stories.
However, the statement ends with a note of caution, with Chairperson Jim Slevin noting that with Donegal showing high levels of food poverty, there will be a requirement, he said, to respond quickly to those communities experiencing high levels of disadvantage through supports under the Local and Community Development Programme.
Statement in Full –
In his End of Year Statement reviewing the activities of Donegal Local Development Company, CEO, Dr. Caoimhín Mac Aoidh noted that while the year presented significant challenges arising from reduced budgets, it was also marked by record achievements in the delivery of its European Union / Irish Government, IFI and Department of Social Protection development programmes. The company delivers these programmes throughout its catchment which includes all parts of CountyDonegal excluding Inishowen maintaining a staff of over 50 core staff based in offices in Letterkenny, DonegalTown, Ballyshannon, the Bluestack Centre, Cill Cartha and Gaoth Dobhair. As administrators of the TÚS, Rural Social Scheme and Job Initiative Programmes, the company is the chief employer of nearly 400 persons.
Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP)
Under the Local and Community Development Programme the company was able to support disadvantaged students to remain in third level education through its Higher Level Education Grant. DLDC supported the Regional Employment Service in providing job recruitment and employable skills training for unemployed persons and job seekers. In relation to community grants the company Chairman, Jim Slevin, noted that he was pleased the company could continue its investment support for the four community networks in the company’s catchment. He emphasised that the relationship with community groups in the Donegal Gaeltachtaí had been significantly strengthened in 2013 and that this trend would increase in the incoming year. He stated that all grant contracts to communities had been paid out in full under the programme for local development initiatives addressing problems of social disadvantage. Mr. Slevin pointed to the company’s ability to rapidly adjust to local situations as being key to living up to its aim of “working in Donegal for a better future for all”. To this aim he cited the company’s early work through an inter-agency response to farmers experiencing social or health related issues as well as an innovative action on farm safety matters. The Chairman stressed the importance of the company’s role in supporting the “Man Up” campaign in promoting men’s roles in challenging instances of abuse against women and children. He noted the strong partnership relations in promoting this programme with the various women’s groups in the catchment and nationally. “I also want to thank Jason Black for his central role in supporting the action and look forward to working with him in 2014 to continue this very important work” stated Mr. Slevin.
Rural Development (LEADER) Programme
The main driver of economic rural development administered by the DLDC is the LEADER Rural Development Programme. The CEO confirmed that since the inception of the current programme in excess of 200 projects had been supported by DLDC. The CEO confirmed that while there was an annual target of expenditure under the programme of €2.8M the LEADER team led by Frank Kelly had succeeded in ensuring expenditure to local rural-based projects in Donegal of in excess of €3M. This amount of funding leveraged a minimum of €5M when private investment is taken into account. Dr. Mac Aoidh noted that in the current difficult economic climate, this was a very significant injection of project supports for projects in the Donegal economy. Projects ranged from a supports for both the Donegal Brewing Company in Ballyshannon and the Kinneagar Brewing Company in Ramelton, to the WhiteHouseGarden in Castlefin, Ionad Pobail Charraig Ui Bhaoill and Ireland by Bike in the Donegal Gaeltachtaí.
Chairman Jim Slevin noted that it was on the basis of DLDC’s ability to delivery significant and strategic local development projects leveraging in excess of their annual budget targets that the company was awarded an additional €290K in grant funding for projects in the Donegal Gaeltachtaí in December of 2013. He emphasised that the LEADER team will be commencing 2014 with the aim of progressing projects which have applied for and were awaiting such additional funds.
Rural Social Scheme
The CEO confirmed that the company employs 80 persons under the Rural Social Scheme comprising 76 in-community participants and four supervisors. The participants are placed with approximately 50 local community groups and undertook work directly on behalf of the local communities. The development work ranged from environmental and village enhancement work to supports for youth and sporting organisations to heritage projects. Participants on the scheme showed remarkable flexibility in meeting the needs of their local communities.
TÚS Programme
Dr. Mac Aoidh confirmed that one of the greatest achievements of 2013 had been the progress in expanding the TÚS scheme throughout the DLDC catchment. The CEO confirmed that the numbers employed by DLDC under the programme had risen to 220 persons who are directly supervised by 11 core staff of DLDC. He emphasised that each of these persons is placed with not-for-profit community groups throughout the DLDC area. In providing services to the community ranging from supports to community groups, community halls, tidy towns groups, local village environmental enhancement as well as to groups supporting the most disadvantaged persons in Donegal the programme is transforming the county. The CEO pointed to the enhancement work undertaken in Convoy as just one example of how a project, driven by a local community group and delivered by TÚS Scheme participants in conjunction with DLDC, was positively impacting at a local level.
Job Club
With the significant support of its social partner, the Department of Social Protection, DLDC staff delivered eleven Job Clubs throughout the area in 2013 providing training to approximately 140 persons attending the clubs as well as an additional number of one to one consultations. The Job Clubs were delivered in targeted towns while still managing to extend the services of the Club to rural participants.
Job Initiative
In strong partnership with the Department of Social Protection the company was successful in employing 18 participants and one supervisor on the Job Initiative scheme. This personal development programme affords participants the opportunity to undertake full-time work with a community group providing support and services for the benefit of the local community. The scheme also facilitates participants by building their skills sets for improved work opportunities. Dr. Mac Aoidh stressed that many of the sponsor community groups would be functioning at a much lower level of delivering supports were it not for the fulltime commitment and dedication of those persons working on the Jobs Initiative. He recognised that the Department of Social Protection was a dynamic partner in ensuring that both the participants and the sponsor groups benefitted to the maximum and that as a result, the host communities could enjoy a wider range of important services.
Walks Scheme
Through the work of Inga Bock, Rural Recreation Officer, the extension of the International Appalachian Trail found its European landfall in Donegal. This world renowned walk is now being promoted on an international scale and it is expected that a growing number of walkers from North America will now be undertaking the European extension of the trail by starting their journey at Sliabh Liag and progressing through the county and eventually onto Scotland and Scandinavia. Donegal Waymarked Way walks at the Bluestack way and the Pilgrim’s Walk at Sliabh Liag continued to be supported with local land owners benefitting through direct payments for maintaining sections of the walk. DLDC regretted greatly the need to close the McSwyne’s Gun Loop Walk in north Donegal due to access issues as the walk had proven very popular with walkers from around the country.
Voluntarism
The Donegal Volunteer Centre services the community groups and volunteers throughout CountyDonegal. The target for volunteer registration in 2013 was surpassed while the target for registering voluntary, non-profit community groups had also been achieved. Chairman, Jim Slevin, emphasised that the role of the Donegal Volunteer Centre was critical in supporting the actions and success of the Donegal Gathering Steering Group as well as the many local communities who had distinguished themselves by the events they delivered. He noted that many of these groups had received recognition through the ME4U Awards ceremony on International Volunteering Day.
Volunteering in the Community Programme
Dr. Mac Aoidh noted that while this programme had come to a conclusion, it had achieved considerable success in promoting the development of personal and employable skills for young persons living in the immediate proximity of the border. He noted that such communities had suffered disproportionately throughout the Troubles and there was a distinct need to look at ways through which persons, particularly youth, could develop and contribute more positively to the development of their community. This was the aim of the programme which had been delivered by Margaret Carlin in a number of Donegal communities along the border. Many of the participants continue to volunteer to local groups in their area and a number of practical community-based projects were delivered by the youth. The signage in the Ard Baithin estate in St. Johnston, the murals in Raphoe and Ballyshannon are typical examples of the work delivered by the young people participating on this programme which was funded by the IFI.
The Future
Looking towards 2014 Chairman Jim Slevin noted that the new year will open with immediate challenges. There The fact that Donegal has the highest levels of food poverty is not something we can ignore. We must face that problem and work with communities to address that scourge. We will also be presented with opportunities. We have been given a role through the Department of Social Protection to become directly involved in the further development of childcare provision under the Community Employment Scheme. The challenges of the Alignment process through Minister Hogan’s department means the work of DLDC will be altered to some degree and we will have to wait and see how that is progressed. He noted “one thing is for certain DLDC will not be lacking in its dedication to local social and economic development in Donegal”.
