The EU - Supporting Your Local Community - European ...
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The EU - Supporting Your
Local Community
Ireland has received approximately €72.5 billion funding since joining the EU
in 1973. In addition to these funds, Ireland has also benefited in recent years
from funding for research projects. In 2014, research receipts amounted to
€127 million and a further €110 million was paid in 2013.
The majority of Irish funding from the EU now comes through the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The next largest amount of funding comes from the
Structural and Cohesion Funds, which have contributed considerable investment
into our transportation, educational and water-related infrastructures as well In 2014, the European Union’s new research and
as educational training and other supports used to up-skill our workforce. innovation programme, Horizon 2020, came into
force. It is designed to make it easier for researchers
From 2014 to 2020, structural funding will focus mainly on areas such as and businesses, (including SMEs) to collaborate on
research, technology and innovation supporting small, medium enterprises projects. A key element of Horizon 2020 is a proposal
(SMEs), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), energy efficiency and to join forces with the private sector and member
education, training and labour activation measures. states of the EU, to achieve results that one country
or company is less likely to achieve alone.
Ireland is developing a clean, innovative and highly skilled economy, providing
world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT, Research and Around €22 billion will be invested in this, to boost
Technology. Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world markets. innovation in potentially high growth sectors that
These investments are providing a further stimulus in every region of Ireland will generate high quality jobs. Much of the funding
and are supporting Mayo‘s economic development and employment generation. will go to public-private partnerships, called Joint
Technology Initiatives (JTIs) that will carry out
This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU research into: innovative medicines; fuel cells and
supports Irish citizens throughout every county in Ireland. hydrogen; aeronautics; bio-based industries; and
electronics.
Irish participants in existing JTIs have already received over
€12.5 million from the EU research budget. Here are some
successful examples of this in Mayo:
Incubation Facility at Castlebar
The Innovation in Business Centre in Castlebar part of
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), which was
set up with EU funding, now has 8 successful companies
that have transitioned from the campus. There are now
11 client companies at the campus and an additional 7
virtual clients.
Continued on next page...
The first Institute of Technology campus in Ireland to be awarded Green Campus
status, located in Castlebar, Co Mayo
Mayo
...continued from front page
GMIT Mayo was the first Institute of Technology in the world to
be awarded the status of Green Campus by The Foundation for
Environmental Education (FEE) and An Taisce in 2011. In February
2014, the campus was awarded its second Green Flag, following
a rigorous re-evaluation by an expert panel under the Green Flag
themes of Energy, Litter and Waste, Water and Biodiversity.
The aims of the GMIT Mayo Green Campus project are to raise
awareness of environmental issues and take practical actions under
the Green Campus themes. Environmental initiatives on campus have
led to dramatic changes on campus:
• Paper consumption has declined by over 50% Dr Florian Stefanov, a Biomedical Research Engineer at GMIT’s
• Recycling rates have increased by over 75% Medical Technology Centre, GMedTech, in collaboration with the
• Energy consumption has been reduced by just over 20% Western Vascular Institute, Galway University Hospital and Galway
• Biodiversity has been increased through planting of native trees Clinic, has won first place at the International Society for Vascular
• Live-streaming from Swift nest boxes from May to August each Surgery 2015 Congress, for a presentation outlining the performance
year is a nationally unique project. of the multi-layer stent for the treatment of aortic aneurysms.
Supporting Local
Enterprise
A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth
and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up, grow and
export. As part of this, new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been
established within Local Authorities, (replacing the existing County
Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support
services for micro and small business. The new LEOs are responsible at
local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting
business development. They are the “First Stop Shops” through which
all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and
where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly
fast-tracked to the next level of support.
In 2014, capital funding of almost €91 million was made available to
LEOs throughout Ireland, to provide direct grant assistance for micro-
enterprises employing up to 10 staff and training and development
supports for micro and small businesses. County Mayo received over
€3.1 million in 2014.
Mayo LEO, based in Castlebar, offers a number of courses, mentoring Best Start-Up (winning a €20,000 investment): Daniel Loftus and UrbanFox
and workshops for local business people. The LEO is also participating
in the Sci-Net project. This provides SMEs with training, practices The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the world’s largest support
and tools to enable collaboration, leading to improved innovation, network for SMEs has established a new partnership with 31 Local
profitability and growth. Enterprise Offices in Ireland, including the LEO in Mayo. This offers free
access for Mayo companies to Europe’s largest database with up to
10,000 new business and technology opportunities in the EU and many
Young Entrepreneurs other major global markets. This partnership provides Irish companies
Three of Mayo’s best young entrepreneurs won a total of €50k with an important gateway into the EU and a bigger footprint globally
investment through Louth LEO. by forging new international partnerships. The Network is co-financed
• Best New Idea (winning a €10k investment): Sean McGarry with under ‘COSME’, the EU funding programme for the Competitiveness of
The Tidy Shower Company Enterprises and SMEs. The services are tailored for SMEs but are also
• Best Start-Up (winning a €20k investment): Daniel Loftus and available to all other businesses, universities and research centres.
UrbanFox
• Established Business (winning a €20k investment): Niall High Potential Start Up Companies
McCormick with Colmac Robitics Enterprise Ireland is responsible for supporting High Potential Start-Up
(HPSU) Companies. HPSUs are start-up businesses with the potential
Enterprise Ireland to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international
Enterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1 million in sales
development, marketing, exporting, training and R & D. within three to four years of starting up.
Mayo
Promoting
• Francis and Kathleen Brennan run a Bed and Breakfast
business in Glenties town. They received funding of almost €80k
to install facilities for outdoor enthusiasts who stay at the B & B.
Rural Community
Development
• Cong received €500k funding towards a new community hall. In
2014, the community group was paid €167k of this.
• Claremorris was also able to upgrade the community hall
Currently, Irish farmers receive EU funding of €1.2 billion every year facilities with funding of €200k that this project was awarded.
through CAP funding and since 2007, Irish farmers have received a total Approx €67k of this was paid in 2014.
of €10.5 billion. Further support of €2.3 billion was received through • Glenties received funding of €148k towards the conservation of
rural development programmes, with a further €2.2 billion secured for the old community hall.
the 2014-2020 period. In recent years, these programmes accounted
for around 90% of our total EU public sector receipts.
The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life
in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by
providing support initiatives in the area of rural/agri-tourism, local
enterprise development and community facilities. The LEADER initiative
will provide €250 million in financial resources of which Mayo has been
allocated over €11.1 million.
Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this
programme:
Diversification The Crossroads Community Centre
• Glen Keen Farm in Louisburgh received €50k funding to assist
them in building a new Open Farm. Guests can learn traditional Tourism
farming skills and also enjoy educational workshops and outdoor • Westport House received funding of €200k to renovate and
activities. improve visitor facilities. In 2014, they received funding of
• Hugh John and Mary Patton in Ballyshannon were also able €50k to construct a pedestrian entrance, a ticket office and an
to develop an Open Farm with funding of €150k that they were entrance for caravans and campers.
awarded. • Glenisland Co-Operative received €28.5k funding towards the
installation of a new marina at Lough Beltra. In total, the project
Business Development received over €114k funding.
• Cloona Consultants in Westport received funding of €38k in • Mevagh Dive Centre in Carrigart was able to purchase a new
2014 to build a new, professional recording studio in the town. diving and sight-seeing boat with funding of €200k that the
The project received total funding of €151k. centre received.
Renewable Energy
GMIT won substantial funding to develop innovative online training Mayo energy projects that will receive financial support include the
in renewable energy systems, using a state-of-the art online energy second phase of Erris town’s three year plan to become a sustainable
laboratory developed in GMIT over the past five years. energy community, which will see energy upgrades to community
buildings and homes and the development of two micro-generation
Engineering lecturers and researchers won €250k from the Leonardo demonstration sites.
Da Vinci programme to develop high-quality, industry-relevant online
training and upskilling programmes for undergraduates as well as for
individuals wishing to upskill or enter the renewable energy sector.
Currently all experimentation is done in labs in the GMIT Engineering
School, which is based in the Galway campus. Infrastructure
However, now Mayo students can participate as the project will In 2014, €267k was paid to Mayo County Council in respect of the
facilitate best practice teaching through online experimentation using gateway development in Ballina, bringing the total paid to date
the existing laboratory. under the scheme to €13.5 million.
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) As a result of the Gateway and Hubs Investment Scheme, Pearse
In 2015, SEAI announced that Mayo community energy projects will Street now ranks as one of the finest 19th century streets in the
receive in excess of €220k in financial support resulting in substantial country, with its avenue of trees and 19th century street furniture.
improvements in homes, community buildings, local authority premises
and sports facilities throughout the county.
Mayo
Cork
Supporting coastal
communities
Fishing Industry
In Ireland, there are 11,000 people employed in the seafood industry,
which includes almost 5,000 fishermen, over 1,700 fish farmers and
almost 3,000 employed in fish processing. Ireland’s largest export
market is France, followed by the UK, Spain and Nigeria.
Fostering
Employment,
Education &
Training
The European Social Fund (ESF) stimulates the provision of employment
and training opportunities, emphasising sustainable and quality
employment (especially youth). Poverty, discrimination and social
exclusion are also tackled.
Since Ireland joined the EU, many agencies and State bodies have
received almost €6.5 billion in investment from the ESF, including
€24.1 million in 2014. In Mayo, the EU has co-funded projects and
programmes dealing with the youth sector, early school leavers,
minority groups, adult literacy, upskilling and support for long-term
unemployed.
Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and
sport for the years 2014 to 2020. It provides funding and support
for organisations to operate projects, which encourage European
Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme - FLAGS exchange, co-operation and learning. Funding of almost €170 million
This scheme provides grant aid towards the sustainable development has been allocated to Ireland. Over 77% of this will be allocated to
of fishery dependent areas. It is funded under the national education and training, with a further 10% focussing on youth.
Development Plan and Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).
Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund is designed specifically to
promote the sustainable development and improve the quality of life
in fisheries dependant areas. In particular, the funding provided through
this scheme complements other EU funded programmes and forms
part of an overall strategy aimed at supporting implementation of
the objectives of the common fisheries policy, while maintaining the
economic and social prosperity of these areas. In 2014, over €533k
was invested in 119 projects around the coast of Ireland. Mayo is
supported by the North FLAG area, which covers from Ballyshannon
to Muff. Public groups, community groups and organisations as well
as private individuals all qualify for project funding. The new Seafood
Development Operation Programme will be published in 2016 and
Ireland has secured €148 million EU funding for this.
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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