The Potential of Lags' Post 2013 Maura Walsh IRD Duhallow, Ireland 13 th May, 2010 1
Key dates in the development of the Rural Development Policy 1988: Reform of Structural Funds & The Future of Rural Society 1991: Launch of LEADER l Initiative: First experience of the approach in 217 areas Pilot a success & EC includes in CAP Reform LAG structure established 1994: LEADER ll, extended to 1,000 rural areas All of Ireland covered with 36 LAGs Innovation getting LAGs to try new things 1996: Cork Declaration A Living Countryside established the rights of rural populations Key dates in the development of Rural Development Policy 2001: Launch of LEADER+ A themed approach to development 2001: Gothenburg Declaration Sustainable Development Lisbon Economic Competitiveness 2004:Commission proposal on rural development policy 2007-20132013 7% of budget recommended 4% accepted 2007: LEADER becomes part of mainstream CAP policy 2
IRD Duhallow simply as a LEADER Administration OR A Local Rural Development Agency operating across a wide range of Programmes and Initiatives to meet the needs of the community and region. Decision taken in 1992 and developed since then Financing Area based approach Bottom up approach Networking & Transnational Partners Specific Features Of LEADER Local Action Group Co-operation & Complimentarity Innovation The Integrated Approach 3
IRD Duhallow Staff Structure 2010 Maura Walsh Manager Updated April 10 Eileen Linehan Team Leader Community Development Monitoring & Project Admin Catherine Crowley Team Leader Enterprise & Employment Margaret O Connor Finance & Administration Team Leader Helen O Sullivan Community Development Triona Murphy, Community & Carers Katie Crowley Small-holders & Diversification Tourism Officer To be filled Martina O Sullivan Finance Officer Paddy O Connor FAS CE Supervisor Eilish Doherty & Noreen Courtney Finance Officers Mary McHugh Equality Emplmt & Trng Derval Corbett Clerical Officer Marie Fleming Clerical Officer Ann McMahon Out of Schools Kasia Meller Finance Officer Orlaith Tomkins Food Centre Co-ordinator Yvonne Brosnan Rural Transport Co-ordinator Tim Ring Supervisor Rural Soc. Scheme Ita Hickey Supervisor Rural Soc. Scheme Sheila O Keeffe Supervisor Rural Soc. Scheme Colm Crowley Warmer Homes Co-ordinator LEADER 4.5 LCDP 5.5 CSP 4 RSS 3.3 T0 Warmer Homes/SEI FAS NCIP Dormant Accounts 6 4
High Elderly Population is it a Liability or Asset Rural Transport Service 59,154 passengers last yearyearemploys 5;contracts 60 drivers Rural Meal Service 22,097 delivered last year Employs 17 Energy Conservation Insulated 400 homes 10 jobs Care & Repair 10 volunteers 111 repairs Friendly Phone Call New initiative employs 2 partpart-time IRD Duhallow LEADER 20072007-2013 Strategic Overview A Living Country Side Sustainable Environment Awareness Village Enhancement Develop Iconic Walks Develop Angling Centre Heritage Management Preservation & Restoration Enhance Built Heritage Sustainable Land Use Protect Habitats & Ecosystem Enhance Social Capital Social Enterprise Heritage Management Village Renewal Environment Awareness Education &Training Develop Facilities Eco Tourism Improve Quality of Life Human Natural and Cultural Resources Environmental Technology Sustainable Growth Enterprise Infrastructure Technical Support Capital Investment Recruitment Assistance Product Development New Food Businesses Mentoring Networking Pluri-activity Farmers Markets Diversification Cultural Economic New Sustainable Jobs The Arts Traditional New Service Enterprises Increase participation of Youth & Women & over 60 s Develop Community Facilities Fund Community Enterprise Improve Local Services Training, Management & IT Staff & Board Training Animate & Capacity Build Support Networks Establish Trans-national links New Food Products Expand Cultural Centres Develop Craft Enterprises Celtic Spirituality Centre S Luachra Summer School Schools Creativity Programme Fund Cultural Publications Marketing & Promotion Community Arts Prog Public Art -Women & Heritage Identity Foster Creativity Rural Development 5
Background ELARD International non-profit organisation, founded in 1999 by five National LEADER Networks - French LEADER Network; Greek LEADER Network; Irish LEADER Network; Italian LEADER Network; Spanish LEADER Network; ELARD now represents 800 Local Action Groups throughout; France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, North Ireland, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Lativa, Hungary; ELARD Promotes The LEADER Approach The most important goal of ELARD campaign to spread the philosophy, principles and scope of the LEADER method grounded in its seven specific features in order to achieve sustainable rural development across Europe 6
Over 56% of the population in the 27 member states of EU living in rural areas which cover 91% of the territory LEADER method recognised all over Europe LEADER = local people as the main asset of rural areas Success of LEADER projects; responsibility placed on local people from local areas & their ability to discover the best for their environment, culture, working traditions & skills Networking & Transnational As a means of fast tracking learning As a means of mutual support To identify good/best practice To identify further innovations To share as well as to learn To achieve economies of scale To access new programmes To develop the best response for your area 7
What's happening at EC Level EN RD Thematic Working Groups Commission has established 4 EN RD TWGs Focus on specific Rural Development Programme Thematic Priorities In-depth analysis of EU Rural Development Policy Implementation Contribute to the understanding, diffusion & improvement of policy implementation Thematic Working groups TWG 1; Targeting rural specificities & needs TWG 2; Linkages between agriculture & the wider rural economy TWG 3; Public goods & public intervention TWG 4; Delivery mechanisms of EU Rural Development Policy ELARD has representation on all four groups 8
What of the Future? What of the Future. CAP Reform -negotiations are extremely important and ongoing at present LAG s & Networks should develop a response to Commissioner Jean-Luc Demarty s call for submissions LEADER & LAG type structures to feature post 2013 Budgets should be increased - counter lobby from farmers in run up to 2013 Rural areas being re-defined Which towns are not Rural 9
What of the future.. Vision expressed by José Manuel Sousa Uva DG Agri:- a LAG operating in a defined territory will examine assets & weaknesses of that area & devise an integrated strategy It will draw not just from LEADER but perhaps from LIFE Prog for Environment DG Regio, DG Social Affairs, DG Fisheries & also Member State initiatives to implement that strategy What of the Future.. Integration & Complimentarity will be a major part of 2014-20202020 strategies Delivery mechanisms - LAG with majority of members from civil society All Rural areas should have LAGs Gender Equality Theme of the Caceres Declaration 2010 (Spain) Without Women & Young people Rural Europe has no future 10
What LAGs Need To Do To prepare for post 2013 Do the best job possible on the current programme Everyone likes a success Have it evaluated independently Develop your LAG Structures, Processes & Procedures Board, Sub-committees & Staff Look at your area strategically from all aspects Social, Cultural, Economic & Environmental Gender Equality & Youth Should feature What LAGs need to do to prepare for post 2013 Start collecting data on your area well before 2014 if its not available centrally collect it yourself!! Use asset based approach Identify the many funding streams & the possible collaboration between them at LAG level. Work on the basis of co-operation operation rather than demarcation Stay in touch with the Networks 11