DLDC Awarded €13M under Rural Development Programme

2007-2013 (LEADER Element)

DLDC announced on the 4th November, that it is has been awarded €13Million under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The programme contains eight measures which are designed to "improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of economic activity.".....read more:

About the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities

Support for Business Creation and Development

Encouragement of Tourism Activities

Basic Services for the Economy & Rural Population

Village and Countryside Renewal and Development

Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage

Training and Information for Economic Factors Under Axis 3

If you would like to discuss a project idea with a LEADER Project Officer, please download and complete an "Expression of Interest Form" by clicking on the link below. You can also phone DLDC on 07491 27056 (Letterkenny Office) or on 07497 23368 (Donegal Town Office) for further advice and guidance on the Rural Development Programmme.

Tánaiste Launches Education Assessment Research Report

The Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment launched a DLDC funded Research Report into Education Assessments on Friday 19th September at 7.00pm in the Central Hotel, Donegal Town.  The Research represents the culmination of two years work exploring how children in the DLDC catchment area access education assessments.  The research focused on the dual system that currently operates within the County whereby some schools are within the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), whilst others access the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

Over a two year period 2005-2006, DLDC funded 49 individual assessments for primary school children who were unable to secure an assessment via NEPS and whose families were not in a position to pay for a private assessment.  As a result of funding these assessments, it was decided to initiate research to explore why so many children that needed assessments were not able to access them via NEPS/SCPA.

The Research consulted a wide variety of stakeholders i.e. Principals, parents, health and education professionals and psychologists.  The most notable area of concern expressed by the Stakeholders from all sectors consulted during the course of the research is that the current system (of Education Assessments) does not reflect the rights of the child and neither does it offer equality of opportunity.  The Research noted that 37% of children enrolled at Primary schools within the DLDC catchment area fall within the NEPS catchment area.  This figure is significantly below the national figure where 74% of primary school pupils have access to the full psychological service provided by NEPS.

Commenting on the Research, Susan Kierce Marsh, Education Co-ordinator DLDC noted that it highlighted the fact that primary school children in our catchment area have significantly less opportunities of accessing services via NEPS than their counterparts nationally.  Acknowledging the excellent service offered by NEPS, she commented that unless significant resources are allocated to NEPS to facilitate an extension if its current coverage, some children will undoubtedly continue to face difficulty in accessing this essential service.

Challenges and Opporunities - An Interagency Report on Ethnic Minority Communities in Co. Donegal

A new interagency research report was launched in June 2009, the first major report of its kind to map out how exactly services are responding to the needs and aspirations of ethnic minority communities in Donegal. By drawing on extensive research the report gives visibility to issues which have been to the fore in public service policy to date and highlights the key priorities for this population group. The research was commissioned by the HSE and part-funded by DLDC under Measure C of the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme. Please e-mail info@dldc.org for a copy of the report.