DLDC Publications

Support Programmes Cohesion Programme CLAR Programme FAS Jobs Club FAS Jobs Initiative Immigrant Intergation LEADER+ / NRDPMillennium Partnership Fund Rural Social Scheme PEACEII Active Citizenship PEACEII Student Support Voluntarism Programme

LEADER+ / NRDP

Agriculture Projects Analysis, R&D projects Environmental projects Rural Enterprise projects Rural Tourism projects Training projects Transnational projects CLAR programme

Local Development Social Inclusion Programme

Farming & Fishing Enterprise Allowance Community Development Youth Initiatives Regional Employment Service

Research & Publications

In Autumn 2007, DLDC is due to publish its most recent study on Volunteering, Community and People with Disabilities, a research project which was funded by the National Disability Authority.

The research was reviewed the barriers to the active participation of people of disabiltiies in the community and voluntary sector, including the reasons for non-participation and the range of factors which limit participation to those community groups within the disability sector.

The project was operationalised through a survey questionnaire and a series of case studies. Please contact DLDC if you would like to receive a copy of this research.

Publications

DLDC’s actions are co-ordinated, implemented and indeed founded upon a substantial empirical research base. The Partnership commission’s qualitative and qualitative field and in-house research annually, to uncover the true nature and changing dynamics of the social realities experienced by our citizens in Co. Donegal. As such research and practice in DLDC operate complimentarily in somewhat of a virtuous cycle, and our programmes are structured to address critical identified needs throughout the county. Our methodological rigour, and baseline research data has achieved National and International recognition, with Alliance partners principally in the USA and the UK, conducting comparative international studies with their regions.

A number of our recent research publications include:

McKeever, L. (1998-2000) “Social Exclusion & Low-income Farming Households in South Donegal,” Smallholder Households Development Project – this action research project identified and documented the difficulties experienced by low income smallholders located in South-Donegal, developed recommendations on how these issues could be addressed at policy level, established a profile of smallholders in the region, analysed the effectives of support services and systems, and analysed informational needs of the disparate target groups.

McGrogan, F. (June 2000), “North Donegal Farm Survey & Pilot Action Report, (NDFS)” – qualitative/ quantitative research designed to investigate and highlight the difficulties faced by the farming community in the North Donegal forum, principally the Dunfanaghy, Milford and Letterkenny Rural Electoral Wards. This research proved effective in identifying and analysing critical smallholder issues/needs, analysing and sourcing alternative income-sources for farmers, and developing a series of pilot projects.

McKeever, L. (December 2002), “Lets Hear it From Rural Women – A Donegal Perspective,” Donegal Local Development Company Ltd (RWS) – this research project employed a multi-method research strategy in exploring the increasing difficulties/social barriers experienced by rural women in Co. Donegal. The publication explores issues such as financial pressures, rural depopulation, in-country migration and the fragmentation of families, problems of access to education and training, and the lack of employment opportunities for rural women. The study proved effective in developing a series of recommendations and localised strategies to address social exclusion issues experienced by rural women. In Co. Donegal.

DLDC's Farming Newsletter – The Farming Newsletter is also a quarterly publication compiled by our Rural Resource Worker (RRW), Garvan Connolly, to provide members of the general public, particularly smallholders within the DLDC catchment, with advice, guidance on challenges and difficulties experienced throughout the local agricultural sector. The publication also provides information on the range of supports which Garvan is providing to farm and fishing families in the region.