Government To Submit Funding Application For Flood Victims – Killeen

Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. has welcomed the news that the Irish Government will submit an application under the European Solidarity Fund to assist those affected by the recent flooding in Ireland.

The Clare T.D. said he expected that the application will be submitted to the European Commission in the coming days. He added: "To achieve aid under the Solidarity Fund, the damage caused in monetary terms must be in excess of 0.6 per cent of national income. This threshold is very restrictive. This week in Strasbourg, my party colleague, Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP, called on the Spanish Presidency and the European Commission (EC) to prioritise the reform of the Solidarity Fund. MEP Gallagher has informed me that he will pursue this matter vigorously with the new Commission when it is in place."

According to Minister of State Killeen: "The damage caused by the horrendous flooding has affected many homes, businesses, farms, roads and water supplies across County Clare, in particular in Ennis and South East Clare. The knock on effects of the serious flooding are still being felt in communities throughout the County and, despite the high threshold limits set out by the EC, I am confident that an application for funding will be favourably considered in Brussels because of the extent and cost of the damage."

He continued: “Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council and other Local Authorities in flood-affected areas of the country will be asked to assess the damage in their area before the Government makes its submission.”

Minister of State Killeen also welcomed MEP Gallagher’s confirmation that he is seek a meeting with the incoming EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Johannes Hahn, to discuss the application under the Solidarity Fund and other possible funding sources.

European Regional Planning Project Is Launched In Limerick

Over 30 Local Government and Academic figures from throughout Europe gathered at the University of Limerick (UL) today to launch a new initiative aimed at encouraging greater eco-design in regional planning policies.

The Mid-West Regional Authority, in cooperation with the South-West Regional Authority and UL, are participating in the FRESH Project - Forwarding Regional Environmental Sustainable Hierarchies - in partnership with several other EU countries, namely Finland, Italy, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

During the project duration, which commenced on November 5th 2009 and runs until the end of 2012, each partner region will test and implement a series of tools for dealing both with economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

Commenting on the Mid-West region’s focused theme over the next three years, Mr. Liam Conneally, Director of the Mid-West Regional Authority (MWRA) said: “Our primary focus will be on Sustainable Urban Living, and to influence planning and energy policies through eco-design and eco-innovation.”

He added: “Through our participation in the FRESH project, we will be cooperating with our project partners in the region in seeking to disseminate good practice of regional development policies and instruments promoting environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness. The eco-village project in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, and the E-Towns initiative in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, are prime examples of such an approach and we would hope to see similar projects developed in the Mid West Region over the coming years.”

Mr. Conneally continued: “The overall objective of the FRESH Project is to strengthen Sustainable Value Creation based development at regional level and to contribute to the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) with special focus on eco-design and eco-innovation. The purpose of ETAP is to develop environmental technologies and contribute simultaneously to sustainability and competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, an interregional seminar took place at UL today to mark the Irish launch of the FRESH Project. The seminar was opened by the Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, Cllr. Leo Walsh and attended by delegates from all the participating countries as well as dignitaries and interested parties from Ireland and abroad. Speakers included Mr. Antti Toivanen, Kainuun Etu, Finland/FRESH Lead Partner; Prof. Merritt Bucholz, School of Architecture, U.L.; and Mr. Liam Conneally, Director, MWRA.

Further information on the FRESH Project is available from the MWRA website www.mwra.ie.

Green Light For Revised Rural Development Programme

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen says this week’s decision by the EU Rural Development Management Committee to approve Ireland's revised Rural Development Programme (RDP) will bring significant environmental benefits to farms across Clare.

The Clare T.D said the revised Programme, which provides for spending of additional funds for rural development arising under the Health Check and the European Economic Recovery Package, includes the new agri-environment scheme as well as a number of new on-farm investment schemes.

Minister of State Killeen added: “The RDP is focused on the priority areas of biodiversity, climate change and water management. It offers a menu of measures addressing these priorities and farmers may choose measures which complement the environmental profile of their farms. Details of the operation of the new agri-environment scheme will be finalised over the next few weeks.”

The new agri-environment scheme will benefit up to 10,000 participants and will provide a maximum payment of 5,000 euro. The investment schemes include measures for dairy and sheep farmers, pig and poultry welfare measures and a water conservation scheme. In addition, provision has also been made for funding of establishment grants for bio-energy crops.

The revised Programme must now be formally approved by the European Commission and this is expected by the end of February. The roll-out of the various investment schemes will be phased over the lifetime of the Programme.