1. European Commission
Leader+ Observatory Seminar “Leader in the New Member States” November Tihany, Hungary
Mini-plenary session B2: How does the LAG operate at local level?
Maura Walsh, IRD Duhallow Ltd.

2. IRD Duhallow -
A Local Action Group Operating at Local Level

3. IRD Duhallow Ltd. Founded 1989 by local businessmen
Initial Aim to generate jobs through Tourism
Located in a Natural Area of Development in the South West of Ireland
Area 1,800 sq. km; Population of 30,000
Mainly Rural – 4 towns – under 2,000 people
Main Problems:- Depopulation – out-migration, Reliance on Agriculture, Lack of jobs locally, Lack of Jobs for Women
Implementing LEADER since 1991

4. Level of Autonomy
Company Limited by Guarantee, not having Share Capital
A Not for Profit Registered Charity in Ireland
Implements LEADER -Contract from Ministry
Single Integrated Local and Rural Development Structure – many programmes
Has control of own budget a quarter of LEADER annual allocation lodged in advance
Selects & Pays projects on decision of Board
Ministry Inspects Files and Projects
Requests to Ministry to “top-up” Drawdown

5. simply as a LEADER Administration
The Role of Animation & Capacity Building defines the LAG
simply as a LEADER Administration OR
Local Rural Development Agency operating across a wide range of Programmes and Initiatives to meet the needs of the community and region

6. Building Social Capital
Community Enterprise
Social & Economic
Levels of
Social Capital
Development
Community, Social
and Quality of Life
Active Community
Participation
Awareness Raising
and Animation
Time

7. Decision Making and the LAG
The level of Autonomy in decision making will determine the LAG Structure
The Number of Programmes delivered through the LAG will also impact on structure
Interestingly the LAG Structure will often determine (Limit) its Capacity to deliver the on the Scope of LEADER and/or take on any additional Programmes
Irish LAG’s comply with Government standards of Ethics in Public Office, Procurement etc.
An Insurance Bond protects Public Funds
The LAG as an Agent for Animation

8. IRD Duhallow Board 2006 Community Forum Social Partners Business
Development
Women &
Childcare
Social
Economy
Youth &
Education
Youth
Equality
Disability & Migrants
Urban Estates
Migrants & Refugees
Community
Forum
Rural Regeneration
Geographic
Enterprise
Bereavement Support
IRD Duhallow
Board
2006
Childcare
Disability
Enterprise
Network
Social
Partners
Business
Sector
Women
Elderly
Lone Parents
Agriculture
Smallholders
Policy
Beef, Sheep & Tillage
Environment
Carers
Local
Organisations
Statutory
Agencies
Mental Ill Health
Employment
& Training
Project
Evaluation
Project
Assessment
Human
Resources
Finance
Strategic Working Group
Sub-Committees
Operational Sub-Committees
Strategic Working Groups

9. Developing the Development Strategy!
Consultation, Partnership & Common Sense
Know European Rural Development Strategy
Be Familiar with the Operating Guidelines
Do not be Limited by either in developing your Strategy- other Programmes potential
Include as much as possible
But Remember it must be “Doable”

10. Natural and Cultural Resources Community Development
Human
Cultural
Economic
Natural
Eco Tourism
Activity Holidays
Environment
Education
IRD Duhallow LEADER +
Natural and Cultural Resources
Natural and
Resources
&Training
A Living Country Side
Environment Awareness
Promote Walking Holidays
Develop Angling Facilities
Heritage Management
Preservation & Restoration
Enhance Built Heritage
Promote Sustainable Land Use
New Service
Enterprises
New
Sustainable
Jobs
Diversification
New Food Products
Social Enterprise
Community Development
Increase participation of Youth & Women
Develop Social Economy
Improve Local Services
Establish Transnational links
New Training Opportunities
Support Networks
Improve Community Facilities
Improve Quality of Life
Networking
Traditional
Village Renewal
Technology
The Arts
Support Cultural Centres
Community Arts
Support Craft Enterprise
Facilitate Networks
Research & Archiving
Training
Marketing & Promotion
Foster Creativity
Sustainable Growth
Technical Support
Capital Investment
Recruitment Assistance
Product Development
New Food Businesses
Mentoring
Pluriactivity
Rural Development
Identity

11. Implementation & Monitoring
Remember The Specific Features of LEADER…Bottom Up, Area Based, LAG, Integrated, Innovative, Transnational, Finance.
Its not just the outcomes that are important The LEADER Method must be fully Applied
In Implementing LEADER this way you will also be developing your LAG and territory as well as creating a “Virtuous” circle of Animation & Capacity Building
LEADER is about doing thing WITH people not FOR People….But it is about DOING

12. ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVES
& GOALS
STRATEGIC AIM 1
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
Rural/Agri Tourism
(no working group but some
of the remit falls under Comm
Dev)
Business
Development Diversification & Expansion
Enterprise / Ent. Network
Agriculture
Small Holders
Agriculture WG
Business
Support
Enterprise Network
Social
Enterprise
Social Economy WG
Networks
Enterprise Network
20 New Businesses of which 4 Women’s & 6 Target Group
25 Existing Business Diversified
6 New Food Products
3 new participants Company Dev Prog
20 Farm Diversification
4 Enterprise Units
170 Small Holder Families Assisted
170 in Pluriactivity
170 On-Farm Enterprises
170 Farm Efficiency
140 in Value Added
1500 Environment Resource Mgmt.
6 Wildlife Habitats Supported
4% Peatlands Conserved
5 Lectures/seminars 500 in Environment Awareness
6 new Environment info packs published
1 Business Resource Centre
8 Training Progs
15 Business Plans
30 Business Ideas
3 Network Progs
2 Mentor Panels
4 Firms Trading
Internationally
15 Feasibility Studies
12 Employment Grants
Develop Enterprise Network
Develop Crafts Network
6 Enterprise Awareness Progs
10 Target Group Entrepreneurs
20 at risk
kids assisted
in School Business
Programme
Establish 6 Community Enterprises
Create 34 New Social Econ jobs
3 new jobs in Food Centre
6 Part time jobs in Food Centre
6 Sustained
2 Salmon Spawning Rivers enhanced
Enhance 60 km Riverbank
Establish 3 Loop Walks
Sliabh Luachra Trail
1 Archaeological Trail
Millstreet Country Park
20 New Products/Amenities
1 Centre for Celtic Spirituality
4 Cultural Centres upgraded
1 New Cultural Centre established
1 TNP Culture Project
Assist 2 Musicals
3 New Trails
Web Site for Culture

13. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC AIM 2
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Youth & Educ.
Y & Ed WG
Community Forum
Comm Dev WG
Women & Childcare
Women & Childcare WG
Employment &Training
E & T WG
Equality & Migrants
E, D & M WG
9 After Schools clubs with 90 primary kids
3 New Play Areas
5 Afterschools at 2nd level for 75 kids
1500 info on 3rd level
50 targeted for “ “
1 Outdoor Pursuits & Leadership Prog.
3 New Youth Clubs for 60 young People
Establish Youth Info Centre, serving 600
100 young people in Intergenerational Learning projects
Train 9 facilitators in Dev Ed
2 Leadership Progs to train 120 people
Estate management in 8 estates
24 village & 4 town renewal plans
Competition for most inclusive town
160 participated in Intergenerational Learning Prog
120 groups /30 communities n’working
Support 6 Fora with 60 groups.
Upgrade 12 facilities
Re-location of 18 families
6 Community projects on Environment
Community Environment Awards
Enhance greens in 10 villages.
2 Community Parklands
4 w’shops habitat mgt
Info pack on built environment
Survey heritage & special features
Sustainable forest management
Est. 10 re-cycling/composting projects
Research into consumer behaviour
6 new community crèches
Awareness campaign Increase women’s participation by 100
2 new Networks
20% increase in Network membership
24 Seminars organised
Participation in outside Networks
Establish multi-level Training Centre
25 LTU in jobs ex Progression Prog
90 Women in Preparation for work
500 in Adult Ed progs
40 Women in Personal Development
H.R training in 20 sme
6 accessible training units
10 IT training progs
6 IT access points est.
30 Communities in Introduction to IT
8 Business Training Progs delivered
3 Environment training on de-materialisation
Expand to 2 Branches Aware
for 40 people
E3 Bereavement Support Groups
Integration Prog for 30 Asylum Seekers
Support Group for 40 disabled
650 2nd Level &
800 Primary kids in Include me In

14. IRD Duhallow Staff Structure 2006
Maura Walsh
Manager
Eileen Linehan
Team Leader
Enterprise & Project Admin
Brendan O Keeffe P/T
Team Leader
Community development
Margaret O Connor
Financial Control
Admin Team Leader
Clare O Keeffe
Small Holder
Support Worker
Helen O Sullivan
Community Development
Carmel O Connor
Finance Officer
Catherine Crowley
Enterprise Officer
Helen O Donoghue
Accounts P/T
Dianne Devitt
Equality, Disability &Migrants
Kate Kelly
Finance Officer
Marie Twomey
Food Centre
Manager S.E
Marion O Sullivan
Youth & Education
Derval Corbett
Office Admin
Ita Hickey
Carmel Mullane
John Brosnan
Supervisors
Rural Soc. Scheme
Martina Drew
Office Admin
Paddy O’Connor
FAS CE
Supervisor
Yvonne Flynn
Rural Transport
Co-ordinator
Richard O Brien
Transition to Employment
Marie Flemming
Office Admin
Community
Services
Mainstream
Rural Dev.
FAS
RSS
TEP
Cohesion
LEADER
LDSIP
EOCP

15. Project Selection Process
LAG Staff assist applicants and ensure compliance with LEADER guidelines
Project Evaluation Committee examines projects with respect to strategic plan, budget, compliance
Bottom Up and Local Knowledge
Evaluation Committee Recommends to LAG Board which makes the decision
Conflicts of Interest declared and noted at Board
A register of Interests of all board Members kept
Project Promoter & Ministry notified of Decision
Project Assessment Committee oversees implementation
Time scale varies but 6 weeks is the goal

16. Since it’s inception IRD Duhallow has...
Created 790 New Jobs
Sustained Enterprises Providing over 1,100 jobs
Levered over €36.3m in resources into Duhallow
Provided over 3,500 Training Places
Placed over 500 into employment
Facilitated the creation of over 500 childcare places
Supported 96 Community & Voluntary Groups
Enabled Networking & Co-operation
Funded over 600 projects by Communities
Implemented 26 National & EC programmes through a single community based rural development structure

17. …………………….. Assisted 23 Publications
Convened 40 Seminars and Conferences
Developed 25 new amenities and visitor attractions
Assisted & Funded 15 new accommodation units
Empowered over 4,000 young people to get involved in development projects
Initiated support projects in 18 schools
Carried over 22,000 passengers through Rural Transport
Developed Transnational linkages with 22 countries
Implemented 35 National & EU Programmes through a single Administrative structure

18. Conclusion
Integrated Local Development Structures will have an enhanced role in the delivery of the Irish National Development Plan 07-13
LEADER Partnerships (Integrated Structures)
LEADER Programme focus drawn from EU Agreements
Lisbon ( job creation): Gothenburg (sustainability):
Cork (Living Countryside)
Social Inclusion Programmes –
Additional Target Groups
All of the Country will be included in new programme.
Additional Programmes to be delivered through Integrated Local & Rural development Agencies