‘Regrettably low allocation will set community groups sparring for funds’

THE CEO of IRD Duhallow, Maura Walsh - while welcoming the €2 million which it will receive under Leader funding for the next five years - did point out it was a long way off the €12.5 million which they received in 2009.

In the North Cork region, the local action groups in the catchment region will receive a total of €5 million.

Ms Walsh described the €5 million as “regrettable” and said in 2009, when the country was on its knees due to the economic collapse, the Government seemed to recognise the rural needs of people and IRD Duhallow received €10.5 million along with a Government top up of €2.5 million. However, fast forward seven years, when the country is “apparently on the up”, the Leader funding is drastically cut.

“This is very little money which is meant to go a very long way. What it will ultimately mean, and what people do not realise, is it will simply set community groups sparring against each other for very little funding. Community groups will be battling it out for €30,000 which, let’s face it, will not go far in putting in place a new playground or repairing a roof on a hall. It’s going to make it much more difficult for communities to access Leader funding, something which it’s supposed to be designed to prevent,” she said.

Ms Walsh said she firmly stands over the projects which have been rolled out in the region as well as the “huge benefit” to communities, towns and villages throughout Duhallow.

“This will now undo a lot of the good work which we have set up,” she said. With the new policies and procedures in place, it will also “double the administration” work for her staff.

There will be hurdles to be jumped to attain funding and, coupled with administration and evaluation meetings and numerous meetings on any proposed project, the clock will tick for the community who will wait for the funding.

She said in a survey which they undertook it was shown that 70% of funding which they pumped into the region stayed in the region. “We would have had builders, plasterers, electrician s and numerous small businesses carrying out works, whether it’s a hall which has been refurbished to a new facility being built for the community. It was small businesses, and often they are family run, benefitted. It’s these businesses which will now also be hit by this,” she said.