The EU - Supporting Your Local Community - European ...
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The EU - Supporting
Your Local Community
Ireland has been a net beneficiary from the on areas such as research, technology and
EU Budget since accession in 1973. By the innovation supporting SMEs, ICT, energy Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research
beginning of 2015, Ireland received over efficiency and education, training and labour and Innovation programme ever with
€72.5 billion. However, this does not include activation measures. Additional funding nearly €80 billion of funding available
payments made directly to beneficiaries, such opportunities will arise under the Horizon over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition
as research receipts. 2020, Erasmus, Connecting Europe and to the private investment that this
Cosme EU level programmes which cover money will attract. It promises more
The majority of Irish funding from the EU
research, education, infrastructure networks breakthroughs, discoveries and world-
has come through the Common Agricultural
and SME competitiveness and a number of firsts by taking great ideas from the
Policy (CAP), providing direct income and
other smaller programmes. laboratory to the market.
market support to the agricultural sector. In
2015, Structural Funds provided €150m and With this support from Europe, Ireland is
the European Social Funds contributed over continuing to develop a clean, innovative and
€24m towards education and training, social highly skilled economy, providing world-class
inclusion and supports for vulnerable sectors leadership and competitiveness in areas such
of Irish society. as IT, Research and Technology. Furthermore,
Irish farmers are producing high-quality
For the 2014-2020 Programme, the
products for world markets, with a reputation
majority of Irish funding will continue to
for excellence.
come through CAP and Ireland can also still
expect to receive significant receipts under This information leaflet provides an insight
structural fund spending. As in recent years, into some of the ways that the EU has
structural funding will continue to focus recently supported County Donegal.
Ireland has been awarded a total of
€273.3m for 622 participations and 472
projects. Here are some examples of
how organisations in Donegal have been
benefiting:
€3.2m Horizon 2020 funding for
TAOIDE project
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
(LYIT) is a research partner in a
technology development project, TAOIDE
(Technology Advancement of Ocean
Energy Devices through Innovative
Development of Electrical Systems to
Increase Performance and Reliability).
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The EU has approved a new ERNACT led
innovation project SECURE (Smarter Energy
Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions),
worth €1.8 m, which is aimed at transferring
innovative energy solutions for housing
and public infrastructure, developed in
Scandinavia and Atlantic Canada to Ireland
and Northern Ireland.
This follows the award of almost €4m for two
other projects – one dealing with innovation
in the food chain and the other with new
public investment models for high speed
broadband services in rural areas.
The main objective of the innovation project
SECURE is to study, transfer and pilot new
solutions for improving energy efficiency and
renewable sources in public housing, lighting
and public buildings.
The project has ambitious targets to
Donegal County Council is leading the ASCENT project, which was launched in Dunlewey, in the shadows of
meet. Each region must establish a Smart
Errigal, one of the pilot sites chosen for this project.
Energy Community in a village, rural area
or neighbourhood of a city. This will be
CoLab at officially opened its extension, the Ireland, their teachers, and leading lights supported by transferring 15 energy solutions
North West Regional Science Park. from the technology industry. to retrofit 24 houses across the project
This extension houses 40 start-up companies, Donegal County Council has been awarded regions,
over 140 graduate-level employees and an INTERREG Funding of €1.6m to implement • increasing efficiency by 5% in three public
entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the ASCENT project. This will address buildings, and installing alternative or
businesses in the knowledge economy. The the environmental challenges facing the
• renewable energy sources in public the
extended CoLab comprises of a 45,000 conservation and enhancement of areas of
infrastructure for example street lighting.
square ft. incubation centre and is an natural beauty. The project will look at how to
economic driver for regional development. use and manage the mountains and upland Donegal County Council will also benefit from
areas responsibly. The pilot site is Errigal funding of €252k to implement the WaterPro
Cara Pharmacy Ltd in Ballyshannon, Donegal project. The project will develop eco-efficient
mountain in Donegal.
is a partner in a €2m project that is looking tools and models for Stormwater Runoff
at codeine misuse and dependencies. Donegal County Council is one of 8 Management practices and environmental
Although not yet substantiated, anecdotal European partners working on the recently protection for the NPA (Northern Periphery
evidence suggests the problem is common, approved ‘Hericoast’ project, examining and Artic) which is a sparsely populated
making it a concern for public health and the management of cultural heritage in our region.
pharmacy practice. EU-funded researchers coastal landscape.
are collecting evidence to feed into guidelines
for pharmacies and doctors.
Codeine is a weak opiate, used for
Sustainable Energy
management of mild to moderate pain.
It is often prescribed for coughs and can
be bought without a prescription in many
countries. Many people do not realise that
with consecutive and/or excessive use, Arranmore Island Communities pumps and high efficiency gas and oil fired
tolerance occurs over time and the user can Project benefiting 47 homes and boiler upgrades with heating controls.
experience withdrawal symptoms when the 6 businesses through energy
drug is stopped. efficiency upgrades
Arranmore has made great strides
Encouraging women into computing towards becoming a sustainable energy
In January 2016, the LYIT Department of community. The project is set to make
Computing opened its doors to over 500 substantial energy savings for 47 homes
people for the second ‘Women in Computing’ and 6 businesses within the Arranmore
event hosted by the Institute. The 500 plus community. Works underway include
crowd consisted of young girls from over 15 upgrades to lighting, wall and roof SEAI CEO Jim Gannon commends community
secondary schools in the county and Northern insulation, as well as the installation of heat initiatives on visit to Arranmore Island
community project
The LEO Donegal also runs three local
Supporting SMEs
networks: The Donegal Women in Business
Network, Profitnet which is a facilitated
peer learning programme with over 200
businesses participating and The Food Coast
Network which is open to anyone with an
interest in the county’s food sector.
New EU developments aim to support environmental and sustainability concerns.
entrepreneurship and innovation among SMEs The NICHE project is addressing these The LEO Donegal is also a member of the
to drive new firm creation, expansion and challenges and exploring the potential of Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which
employment and to help with the need to using information technology to increase is the world’s largest support network for
overcome a range of operational barriers. innovation in European regions where food SME’s and is helping Donegal companies to
make the most of business and technology
is important for jobs and economic growth.
There is one Local Enterprise Office (LEO) opportunities in the EU and other major
NICHE aims to develop innovation among
in Letterkenny, Donegal that supplies global markets.
companies among the partnering countries.
business information and advice, training
and mentoring, network opportunities and SEA (Student Enterprise Programme)
financial supports including Feasibility Grants Creative Donegal
Each year over 22,000 students all over
up to €15k; Grants up to €150k; Loans LEO Donegal has engaged with the
Ireland find out what it’s like to be their own
up to €20k. This office offers a range of creative sectors and other stakeholders boss and run their own business by taking
programmes that have been tailored to suit to develop a Strategic Action Plan for part in the Student Enterprise Programme,
the needs of local companies. Creative Entrepreneurship for Donegal which is run by LEO Donegal.
to enable the exchange of ideas and to
stimulate new opportunities. This creative The SEA’s are open to second level students
The Food Coast
partnership consists of representatives from around Ireland and this year saw strong
The Food Coast, Donegal’s Good Food interest in Donegal with 15 entries from 6
the creative industries sectors in Donegal
Initiative, was developed by LEO Donegal as a schools.
and representatives from the public sector
programme to support development, growth
support agencies and organisations. At county level, the winning schools were The
and quality in Donegal’s food sector.
Some of the training courses that are offered Royal and Prior Comprehensive School and
This initiative acts as a central platform for by Donegal LEO are: Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana. Winner of the senior
establishing Donegal as a Food County, category was Kitchen Kouture from the
providing food businesses in Donegal with the • The Food Academy Programme which links Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, while
opportunity to connect with fellow businesses Food Producers to Retail Opportunity; the winner of the intermediate category was
while engaging the support services of the • Two European Programmes (Ecreate Inish WoodWorking of Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana.
LEO Donegal. promotes tourism along historical and Scoil Mhuire went on to win the National
cultural routes to assist enterprises in rural Intermediate Category for their hand-crafted
giftware.
Encouraging Entrepreneurs
LEO Donegal runs an annual Business Awards
competition for local companies. In 2016,
the winners of Best New Business Idea were
John Bradley and John McNamara, of
www.getbrain.fit, an empowering online
brain training service which gives the brain
a daily workout via quality content and
stimulation. The winner of Best Established
Business was Joe Bonnar Metal Crafts
Ltd, from Letterkenny. Established in 1993,
the business is one of the country’s leading
manufacturers and suppliers of bespoke
Donegal Food Coast
decorative craft metal work in a variety of
metals for interior and exterior use.
NICHE - Building innovative food areas to be more competitive; Knowcities Winners of Best Start Up Business were
value chains in regions facilitates the access and transition to Richard and Olivia Finney for their business,
the knowledge economy and stimulates
The food sector is faced with major The Counter, which began as a wine shop
sustainable urban development).
challenges that arise from changes in the franchise, until they diversified into an
sector’s economic and other environments. • Accelerate is a Management Development independent wine and artisan food shop,
The availability of safe, sustainable Programme. Strategic Marketing and with the addition of a coffee shop and food
and healthy food has taken a new and Branding Programme as well as a HR offering last year. They were also the overall
pressing dimension in the light of an ever- programme for business owners. winners of Donegal Business of the Year.
growing global population and increasing
Helping Rural Development
More than €1.6 billion was paid to over accounted for around 90% of our total EU The Leader Initiative continues to support
130,000 Irish farmers last year under a public sector receipts. In 2015, CAP payments communities, tourism, local businesses as
variety of EU agriculture schemes. Currently, of almost €81m were distributed in Donegal well as towns and villages. Donegal Leader
Irish farmers receive EU funding of to 8,782 recipients, giving an average companies were awarded over €281k in
€1.2 billion every year through CAP payment of €9,197 which is the 4th smallest funding in 2015 and Donegal has been
funding and since 2007, Irish farmers have in the country. allocated almost €13m for the 2014-2020
received over €12 billion. Further support programme.
Rural areas also receive other supports
of €2.3 billion was received through rural
through the Rural Development Programme
development programmes, with a further
as well as through investment in towns and
€2.2 billion secured for the 2014-2020
period. In recent years, these programmes
villages, as well as in structural programmes.
Coastal
Regions
Education & Youth The European Maritime and Fisheries
Fund (EMFF) aims to support a long-
A strong emphasis is being put on supporting Eramsus+ provides funding to Irish term sustainable seafood industry and
employment and social inclusion for youth. educational organisations to carry out a wide to maximise the contribution of the
The EU Youth Programme is strongly focused range of projects involving staff, learners seafood industry to the economies of
on helping the unemployed to return to the and the wider educational community. coastal regions.
labour market, with particular attention to Recent figures show that there were 4,714
youth and long-term unemployed people. participants from Ireland, which was a 9%
increase since last year.
Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB)
provides support for the following Youth
Programmes throughout Donegal:
• Foróige Youth Development Scheme
• Donegal Youth Service Ltd Daybreak
Programme
• Youth Information Centres Donegal Town and
Letterkenny
• Local Youth Club Grant Scheme
• Schools Completion Programme
Ireland’s Fishing Industry generates
Donegal also has 5 Youthreach centres
about €891m in trade annually, with
in Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Gortahork,
exports of €554m. Recently, funding
Letterkenny and Lifford that offer a wide
of €12m was announced for the 7
range of learning and training opportunities.
newly established Fisheries Local Action
These centres also provide an extensive
Groups (FLAGS). This initial funding has
health promotion programme covering areas
supported a wide range of initiatives,
such as positive mental health, sexual health,
targeting job creation, social inclusion,
alcohol and drugs, road safety, citizenship
LYIT students who went to study at European
tourism, community regeneration
and money management.
universities. Barry Gregory (Drogheda), Sinead Jones and market development around our
(Glencolmcille), Stephanie Krebs (Tubbercurry), coastline. County Donegal is part of the
Michaela Woods (Bunbeg), Laura Murray FLAG North (the BallyShannon to Muff
(Letterkenny). Julie O’Connell (Letterkenny) and
Sharon McGlinchey (Ballybofey).
area) which received €1.95m funding.
For further information please contact:
The European Commission Representation in Ireland
Tel: 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu
www.euireland.ie www.facebook.com/EUIreland www.twitter.com/eurireland
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