Category: News

Jobs Sheet Week 45

South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), as one of the Country’s 35 LEADER providers, has expressed deep disappointment at the allocation for LEADER 2023-2027 announced recently as part of the indicative CAP measures.

Commenting on the allocation of €180 million for the period 2023-2027, SKDP CEO Noel Spillane said; “this allocation marks a continued decline in support for Rural Communities through LEADER over the course of successive programmes. Prior to 2016 the LEADER Programme exceeded over €400 million over the budgetary period. The allocation points to another devastating cut to the Programme over the course of the last decade.”

Noel continued that “for 30 years LEADER has been a driver for Rural Development across Ireland. It is extremely disappointing to see how funding for the Programme has diminished significantly over recent Programmes. LEADER has been the life blood of Rural Community Groups and businesses in areas where alternative investment is simply not available”. “This allocation sends out a very poor signal to Rural Communities as they face up to the challenges of Covid & Climate” he added.

“SKDP is calling on Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine Charlie McConalogue and Minister for Rural & Community Development to revisit the allocations under CAP to ensure that the LEADER Budget is increased over the 2023-2027 period” Noel concluded.

Six retiring South Kerry Development Partnership Directors were honoured at a special event that took place in Killorglin recently. The retiring members, George Kelly, Donie Doody, Daniel O’Sullivan, Cllr. Donal O’Grady, Eugene Dennehy and Shivaun Shanahan, represented a range of sectors and have served on the Board for at least two terms.

Speaking at the event, CEO Noel Spillane sincerely thanked all of them for their service and commitment during their tenure. He noted that being on a Board such as that of the Partnership brings with it significant responsibilities and without the service they were willing to give, it would not be possible for such organisations to operate. Noel also praised the work they did in representing SKDP outside of their Board attendance and noted how valuable this was in linking the community and business sectors across South Kerry to the work of the Partnership. This is also hugely valuable in enabling SKDP have positive and constructive working relationships with outside organisations across all sectors he said.

Front L-R: Seán Roche, Donie Doody, George Kelly, Daniel O’Sullivan; Back L-R: Noel Spillane (SKDP CEO), Eugene Dennehy, Cllr. Donal O’Grady (Missing from Photo: Shivaun Shanahan)

Current Director Seán Roche, who represented the current Partnership Board, also added his thanks to that of Noel Spillane and noted the significant work that SKDP has undertaken during the period these Directors were on the Board. He noted that all of the retiring Board members gave freely of their time and said that their experience and input across the organisation helped create the strong and important organisation that SKDP is for South Kerry.

Retiring Director Cllr. Donal O’Grady thanked both CEO Noel Spillane and all of the Partnership staff for their work and the support they provided to him and the other Directors during their time on the Board. He said that the Partnership undertakes a significant amount of work across the region, some of which goes unnoticed by people, but that its efforts deliver a significant benefit to South Kerry as a whole.

Jobs Sheet Week 44

You can now apply for this years Kingdom Education Trust Fund. The closing date is  Friday 19th November, 2021.

 

The Connection Ireland plan is a major public transport developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) with the aim of increasing connectivity, particularly for people living outside our major cities and towns. The plan aims to improve mobility in rural areas, and it will do this by providing better connections between villages and towns by linking these areas with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide.

You can read the press release of the TFI Local Link Kerry. The expansion will launch on the 19th of April 2021.

TFI Local Link Kerry Press Release 25.03.2021 FINAL

 

 

Please read the latest edition of Kerry Social Farming Newsletter for October 2021.

October 2021 Newsletter

South Kerry Development Partnership CLG. (SKDP) has secured more that €68,000 in grant aid funding for five South Kerry Broadband Hubs under the recently announced Connected Hubs Initiative. The Partnership applied for the funding collectively on behalf of organisations operating facilities designated as Broadband Connection Points in Foilmore, Valentia, Inch, Bonnane and Barraduff.

The funding will be used to undertake a range of elements including the expansion of remote working infrastructure, the installation of privacy booths, the installation of access control and security systems, providing upgrades of audio visual and IT Network systems, upgrading meeting rooms and signage as well as catering for energy efficiency upgrades across the five centres. The funding is being provided to the groups at a rate of 90% of the total cost of their projects with the other 10% being met from the groups’ own resources.

The elements being delivered under this initiative will ensure that top class facilities are available for all in the surrounding communities who wish to use the Broadband Connection Points. Work on delivering the elements is already underway and it expected to be completed by the end of November.

SKDP CEO Noel Spillane said he was delighted that the application made on behalf of the groups was successful. “This funding is crucial to ensure that the organisations running the facilities designated as BCP’s can provide the levels of service needed by users and will help to ensure the facilities can be open for many more hours in the day” Noel said. “The demand for top class broadband facilities to cater for people involved in home working has grown significantly during the COVID crisis and is likely to increase further into the future”, he said adding that this will not only benefit local people but also visitors to these areas. “So much more activity in areas such as farming and general banking has gone online in recent years and it is crucial, particularly in more rural areas, that proper facilities with broadband access is available to enable people do their vital day to day tasks efficiently” Noel concluded.

A one day conference in the Kerry UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. November 5th, 2021 in The Brehon Hotel, Killarney

Rhododendron Conference Poster

Conference Schedule (1)