This article is from page 8 of the 2013-05-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A CLARE local development company that has invested € 86.5 million in the county over two decades has described Government plans to dissolve it as little more than a “grab” for its resources. Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) has hit out at plans to give local authorities control of community-led programmes, such as LEADER.
CEO of CLDC Doirin Graham said, “There is no credible justification for this change other than a grab for the resources of LEADER. Minister [Phil] Hogan has failed to back up his contention that a local authority-led model will deliver a better service to the public and will save money.”
According to figures released yesterday (Monday), almost 1,200 local businesses and community projects have benefited from communityled development funding, totalling € 86.5 million since the first LEADER contract was awarded in Clare in 1992. During this time, 1, 550 jobs have been created or sustained and training provided to 3,000 people in County Clare. A further 250 people were assisted into employment.
Further spin off jobs, especially in the building sectors, were created locally as many of the projects required buildings or outdoor areas.
Currently the company in Clare employs 68 people on a wide range of programmes, including LEADER, Local Community Development Programme, Rural Recreation Local Training Initiatives and community work schemes.
This year, the company will also be responsible for the employment of a further 312 people on community work placement schemes including, Community Employment, the Rural Social Scheme and Tús.
CLDC has vowed to “fight tooth and nail” against Minister Phil Hogan’s proposed local government reforms, which would allow new County Council-led bodies replace local development companies as the organisations responsible for LEADER and other local development programmes. It also rejected what it described as “efforts by the Minister to discredit the contribution made by local development companies and their staff across the country”.
“Our organisation has 21 years experience of bottom-up development, a huge voluntary input, strong relationships with communities and people on the ground, and provides better value for money,” said Ms Graham.
“The European Commission and the OECD have praised Ireland’s local development organisations strongly for their ability to deliver EU supports and policies on the ground. CLDC and the 49 other Local Development Companies around the country will fight the Minister’s proposal tooth and nail.”