EU support for Irish Regions
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES (2000-2006)
Reform of the Structural Funds in 1988 resulted in the provision of a budget for special programmes, known as Community Initiatives, to find common solutions to specific problems affecting the whole of the EU. They are co-financed by the EU Structural Funds but are outside the Community Support Framework structure.
Four Community Initiatives operate in the 2000-2006 period, these are:
INTERREG III
LEADER+
EQUAL
URBAN
The Community Initiatives are based on guidelines drawn up by the European Commission and prepared in consultation with a Regional Policy Committee that consists of senior civil servants nominated by the Member States. On the basis of these guidelines, the appointed Managing Authority for each Community Initiative in each Member State draws up an Operational Programme (OP) for each Initiative. Ireland will receive 1.5% of the total EU budget for Community Initiatives for the 2000- 2006 period - this amounts to €176 million.
The INTERREG III Programme
INTERREG promotes cross-border, trans-national and inter-regional co-operation within the EU. It covers cross-border projects under 3 strands:
INTERREG Strand A
Strand A involves joint projects between neighbouring regions. In Ireland
two Programmes are supported under this strand.
1. Ireland - Northern Ireland Programme
2. Ireland - Wales Programme
INTERREG Strand B
Strand B allows for the elaboration of spatial development strategies in large transnational "European Regions" which cover a number of neighbouring states in specific regions. Ireland is included in 2 transnational INTERREG regions, the North-West Europe Region and the Atlantic Area Region. Projects under Strand B have to fulfil the criteria specified in the programme covering each specific region, which are administered by joint Secretariats established for each region.
INTERREG Strand C
Strand C provides for inter-regional cooperation, particularly between the different INTERREG regions specified under Strand B. These are administered in conjunction with the Secretariats for Strand B trans-national regions.
INTERREG is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF has allocated €89.3m to organisations in Ireland involved in cooperative projects under INTERREG during the current programming period. The organisations charged with promoting awareness of these programmes and facilitating Irish involvement are
| Organisation | INTERREG Programme |
| Special European Union Programmes Body www.eugrants.org |
Ireland - Northern Ireland Programme www.seupb.org |
| Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly www.seregassembly.ie |
Ireland - Wales Programme www.wefo.wales.gov.uk North West Europe Programme www.nweurope.org Strand C - Interregional Programme www.interreg3c.net |
| Border Midland Western Regional Assembly www.bmwassembly.ie |
Atlantic Area Programme www.interreg-atlantique.org |
LEADER+ Programme
The LEADER+ Programme is targeted at promoting rural development through improving the economic environment to create job opportunities, and through training and capacity building. LEADER+ is more restrictive than its predecessors, and only very innovative pilot-type projects will be allowed. LEADER+ in Ireland has been allocated €47.9m by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and €25.8m from the Exchequer. Financial assistance is channelled through ‘Local Action Groups’ (LAGs), which are responsible for drawing up development strategies, and for their implementation.
Some of the priorities around which development strategies
are based include:
• Use of new technologies to make products and services in rural areas
more competitive.
• Improving the quality of life in rural areas.
• Facilitating access to markets for small producers.
• Making the best use of natural and cultural resources.
With the exception of small-scale actions, investment in infrastructure is not eligible under LEADER+. Investment in areas such as rural tourism and assistance to collective bodies is included in the National Rural Development Programme, which has a budget of some €75 million. Funding under the National Rural Development Programme available in all areas of the country, and some areas receive funding under both LEADER+ and this programme.
Nationwide, 35 local action groups and 3 collective bodies have been selected by the Government to implement the new programmes.
For further information please contact:
Managing Authority LEADER+,
Department of Community,
Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
DÀn Aimhirgin,
42-49 Mespil Road,
Dublin 4.
Tel: +353 (0)1 647 3000
Fax: +353 (0)1 667 0826
Lo-Call: 1890 474 847
Email: eolas@pobail.ie
Web: www.pobail.ie/en/RuralDevelopment/LEADER
The EQUAL Initiative
The aim of EQUAL is to fight discrimination and inequality in the labour market. Assistance is channelled through "Development Partnerships", which can be either geographic (i.e. based on a local authority area comprising public bodies, private companies and employers, trade unions, training centres or universities, NGOs, etc.) or sectoral, where partnerships operate within specific sectors.
A large degree of flexibility is left for the Member States to decide on priorities for their own programmes. However, a number of ‘themes’ have seen suggested, based on the European Commission's European Employment Guidelines: Improving employability - facilitating entry into the labour market. Entrepreneurship - facilitating the business and enterprise spirit. Adaptability - creating an adaptable workforce with relevant skills. Equal Opportunities - reconciling work and family life.
The EQUAL Initiative comprises three Strands:
Strand A
Tackling discrimination and inequalities linked to the labour market. Projects
run under this strand must reflect the priorities agreed by the Commission
and Member States under the European Employment Strategy. These are carried
out by public and private partners and associations through trans-national
co-operation.
Strand B
Networking projects at national level to enable information exchanges and
the dissemination of best practice.
Strand C
Joint work by the Commission and Member States to learn the lessons of good
practice and take into account in policy development the priorities to be
implemented through the EQUAL initiative.
EQUAL will invest €47 million in Ireland during the
period 2000-2006. The European Social Fund (ESF) contribution will be €33.9million.
This investment aims to improve access to employment and training opportunities
for people who are unemployed or employed but low skilled and therefore vulnerable
to unemployment. Further Information is available on the EQUAL
website:
www.equal-ci.ie
The URBAN Programme
The URBAN Community Initiative is designed to address a range of problems associated with social and economic exclusion within deprived inner-city and urban areas. Funding under this Community Initiative is based on urban regeneration strategies drawn up by the Local Authority, in association with a local partnership including Social Partners, NGOs, residents groups and others.
Possible measures under URBAN include the reclamation of derelict sites and restoration of public spaces, training in new technologies, the creation of car-free areas, and studies on improving public services.
Ballyfermot in Dublin is the only selected Irish area to receive funding under this Initiative during the 2000-2006 programming period. The Ballyfermot URBAN programme has a total budget of 11.4 million and has been allocated €5.3 million by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Managing Authority for this programme is URBAN Ballyfermot: www.urbanbl.ie
New Childcare Centre,
Drumshambo, Co Leitrim