Tag Archives: Rural Development

A SIGNIFICANT planning initiative, designed to create a roadmap for the strategic regeneration, development and sustainability, has recently been launched across a group of communities in North Clare. The catchment for the project will comprise the communities served by Mary Immaculate Secondary School and the Stella Maris Day Centre in Lisdoonvarna. This covers communities such as New Quay, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Carron, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna, Kilfenora and Kilshanny. The project is a joint initiative of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte and Clare Local Development Company (CLDG). “The project is premised on the need for communities in North Clare to be ready for and be able to respond to change,” said Councillor Joe Garrihy of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte. “We have seen dramatic changes in the region in recent years, for example to patterns of land usage and employment. “We have observed increased centralisation of public services and employment opportunities and this has led to substantial migration of our young from the region. “Correspondingly, we have seen the …

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017 has bee launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys. As part of the Action Plan for Rural Development, towns and villages across the country are set to benefit from €20 million in funding from the scheme. The Scheme is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure that the benefits of economic recovery are felt in every part of the country. As part of that commitment, and as a key support for the retail sector under the Action Plan for Jobs 2017, Minister Mitchell O’Connor will launch the Framework for Town Centre Renewal at the end of the month. This is the second year of the scheme and will see up to 300 towns and villages benefit from funding from the department. Proposals for funding will have to support sustainable, economic development in their locality.

Clare County Council is seeking out local communities, projects and housing estates interested in representing Clare in the 2017 IPB Pride of Place competition. The annual all-island competition, which is run in association with Co-operation Ireland and local authorities North and South, aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society along with generating awareness, respect and inclusion for every facet of society. Clare County Council Rural Development Directorate may nominate one group per category, providing the total number nominated does not exceed five. Judging for Pride of Place 2017 takes place between June and August, with winners, runners up and special award recipients receiving a trophy and a small monetary prize at November’s awards ceremony. There are 11 categories under which communities can enter. They include three themes: Community based Youth Initiative, Creative Place Initiative, Communities Reaching Out Initiative and five population categories for locations with less than 300 people; 300-1000 people; 1,000-2,000 people; 2,000-5,000 …