Integrated Resource Development
their own areas. The high number of applicants in the Social Enterprise category of the Duhallow Business Awards over the past five years is a good indicator of the surge in interest in social innovation.
IRD Duhallow is cognisant of everyone’s responsibility to maintain green practices, and be mindful of the environment. We cannot sacrifice our environment to have a strong economy and IRD Duhallow is mindful of this task, with a team working tirelessly to support our local environment.
Following on from the successful LIFE SAMOK, IRD Duhallow successfully secured its second EU LIFE+ Nature Project in 2014, which commenced in February 2015. This €3million LIFE+ project is a four and a half year project and aims to work with the local community to achieve a better environment for everyone in Duhallow. This involves connecting and restoring habitats for Hen harrier, Merlin, Atlantic salmon and Brook lamprey in Duhallow.
IRD Duhallow has also recently announced that it has been selected by the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to implement a new €1.46 million European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri). IRD Duhallow’s Environment Working Group, with the support of the management and a team of scientists, will lead a specialist steering committee. The five-year project is entitled Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments (Allow Project). It will develop a cost effective Many don’t realise that the I.R.D. in IRD Duhallow stands for Integrated Resource Development, which means providing a multi-pronged approach to all aspects of rural development to bring about a better quality of life for people in Duhallow.
The company combines the efforts and resources of the State Bodies, Local Authorities, Local Communities and individual entrepreneurs for the benefit of the local areas.
As a multi-funded organisation, staff in IRD Duhallow often joke that they are subject to more rules and reporting systems than they have had hot dinners!
However, rooted in the heart of our communities, the delivery of front line services is the core of our business!
community led strategy aimed at restoring and protecting the high status of the Allow River catchment.
The Allow River is of high conservation value and supports a wide variety of rare and protected habitats and wildlife. However, in recent years threats to the integrity of the freshwater ecosystem have been identified, including a decline in water quality.
The new Allow Project represents an exciting opportunity through which IRD Duhallow will continue working with the community as leaders in sustainable rural development and environmental conservation, bringing a source of economic growth to the region while simultaneously improving the quality of the natural environment for all.