08/05/2012 -

Cathaoirleach Welcomes Enterprise Initiative for Rural Areas

The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Michael Fleming has welcomed the announcement of a new initiative to promote enterprise in rural areas. Minister Phil Hogan is introducing a number of changes to the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme, which will see increased availability of funding for both private promoters and community groups in ruralIreland. The initiative will see €10milion assigned to Basic Services, and the rate of aid for private promoters will increase from 50% to 75%. Minister Hogan said ‘I am confident that these changes will give local development companies more flexibility to increase the amount of support available to a variety of projects involving both communities and private individuals.’

Welcoming the announcement, the Cathaoirleach urged community groups to plan projects in cooperation with the Local Authority to avail of grant assistance up to 75% of the cost. ‘The increased availability of funding to private and community projects will create employment in rural areas and stimulate enterprise.’

The Department of Environment said ‘With an annual budget of €96million for 2012, it is critically important that the 35 local development companies, rural entrepreneurs and community groups all over Ireland continue to look to the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme to provide the financial support necessary to drive their projects forward.’

The Cathaoirleach said ‘Local developments of this nature continue to provide the firm community foundation necessary to encourage and develop enterprise in rural areas, and this new initiative will certainly help this process.’