Month: March 2014

Letter of Invite by SKDP – March 2014

What do Government Reforms mean for our Community SKDP

Invitation to Project Promoters & Community Groups

 

Re: Alignment of Local Government & Local Development

 

You may recall that following the publication in October 2012 of Minister Hogan reform proposals in ‘Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government’

SKDP held a number of community meetings on the issue in February 2013 and a large public meeting in the CYMS Hall in Killorglin in May 2013.

Over the last two months there have been a number of serious developments on the alignment issue – that could have very far reaching consequences for SKDP and the work we do in South Kerry. These recent developments could make it impossible for SKDP to survive and continue to provide the range of economic, community and social supports it delivers to communities in South Kerry. I attach a one page briefing document that synopsises the issues.

In order to fully brief our communities and project beneficiaries on recent developments

SKDP will hold four public meetings as follows

 

Tuesday April 1st – 8pm – The Ring of Kerry Hotel Cahersiveen

Wednesday April 2nd – 8pm – Brooklane Hotel Kenmare

Tuesday April 8th – 8pm – Travel Inn Killarney

Wednesday April 9th – 8pm – SKDP Offices Library Place Killorglin.

These meetings will provide a detailed briefing to all groups on recent developments and their

potential impact on the work of SKDP in South Kerry. There will also be an opportunity for

you to ask questions/ make contributions from the floor. Action to be taken by communities

in response to the latest developments will be agreed.

These meetings are vitally important and I would urge you to please attend your local

meeting to show your support for South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd and the work

that we do in South Kerry. Otherwise there is a real danger that the community led bottom up

approach to local economic & community development, as implemented by SKDP, will be

lost to South Kerry.

I look forward to seeing you at your local meeting.

Yours Sincerely

Noel Spillane

Chief Executive Officer

March 2014

 

Community groups and local businesses from the Glencar, Beaufort, Bridia Valley, The Black Valley and the Gap of Dunloe areas are being invited to become involved in the new MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Forum which is being established.

The forum is being put in place under recommendations arrived at following an extensive consultation process initiated by SKDP through the INTERREG Rural Alliance project and involving Failte Ireland, The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government, The NPWS, landowners and other partners. The purpose of the forum is to help ensure the long term sustainable management of the MacGillycuddy Reeks under a permissive access model that is acceptable to all interested parties.

SKDP’s Rural Recreation Officer Patricia Deane said that a substantial amount of work has gone into developing a visionary framework for the future management of the reeks involving all interested parties and the establishment of the forum is a key element of this. “It is vital that we have all of the voices around the table in this forum to ensure its future success in achieving its goal” Patricia said. “The aim is that this project will become the blueprint for similar management structures on other upland areas around the country” Patricia pointed out and added that the report produced following a lengthy consultation process and has made a substantial amount of recommendations that will help in the long term successful sustainable management of the Reeks”.

Any community groups and local businesses who are interested in getting involved with this forum and who wish to get more information on what is involved are asked to contact Patricia Deane in the SKDP offices in Library Place in Killorglin or by phone on 087 2031034.

“The MacGillycuddy Reeks are a significant asset to the region and it is vital that everyone has an input into their long term sustainable management so I would encourage all of the community groups and local businesses to get involved” Patricia concluded.

ARE YOU AN SME?  Well, this is the event for you.  A FREE information evening  on – How To Finance Your Business and Know Your Options – will be run by South Kerry Skillnet, Management Works, Rural Food Skillnet and South West Gno Skillnet

Topics Covered

Financing Your Business – Know your Options

Growing Your Own Business – Financing for Growth – Discovery Partnership

Bank Financing – What do the Banks require – Discovery Partnership

Bank Loan Refused, what’s next – Credit Review Office

Exploring New Options – Microfinance Ireland

Employment Investment & Incentive Scheme – Marcus Treacy, OCKT Accountants

Private Equity – Improving your Investment Potential –  SELR8R

Building Financial Capabilities in SMEs – Management Works

Ever thought of starting your own business but never knew how or where to start? Are you after starting a small business and are wondering how you can grow and develop it? If these and other questions about starting and running a small business are ones you would like answered then you should attend an information evening in the SKDP offices, Library Place, Killorglin on this Wednesday evening (5^th March). Being run as part of the Enterprise Month initiative and hosted by SKDP, the event will help provide you with some of the answers you might need in order to start or develop your business.

A number of people who have started up their own businesses will give you first hand insight into how they have achieved their success and you will also have the opportunity to get information on the supports that are potentially available to you in starting up your venture. You will have the chance to ask all of those questions that keep going around in your mind as well as meeting with other people who are also on the road of setting up or developing a small business.

The event will run from 6 to 8pm and light refreshments will be provided. It is free of charge and all are welcome.