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"We'll deliver for Inishowen"
14.12.07
JOB CREATION in
Inishowen, education and support for small
businesses will be more easily delivered thanks to
the merger of Inishowen Partnership Company and the
IRDL.
That's according to John McCarter, who was this week
elected chairman of the newly merged company. The
name and brand identity for the new company will be
agreed in the coming months.
Mr. McCarter, who is a well known community worker
and former director of Fruit of the Loom also called
for "consistent Government support" for local
initiatives aimed at creating economic growth and
tackling disadvantage. |
“This new development
company has the full support of the community, whose
involvement was very clearly demonstrated by the
recent overwhelming support in the community
election process,” said Mr. McCarter.
"We also have the support of the social partners,
local Government and statutory sectors,” he added,
while acknowledging the role of the Minister for
Community and Rural |
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Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó
Cuív, the Government and EU support for the local
programmes here.
"However, this support has to be maximised in the
future as Inishowen Partnership Company and
Inishowen Rural Development Ltd have proved beyond
doubt that our initiatives successfully create jobs
and effectively tackle social exclusion.
"The newly merged company will continue to deliver
at community level and to offer support in the
creation of small enterprises," he added.
“To date, we have had separate organisations -
Inishowen Partnership Company and IRDL - delivering
different programmes such as providing funding for
training, education, support and development for
community groups, employment, job creation and small
business support, and major funding for bigger
projects, such as playgrounds, festivals and tourism
development. Now all of these services and more will
be delivered through the newly merged company, which
will make these services easier to access and to
deliver on a comprehensive and efficient manner.”
Programme plans for the new organisation will be
outlined in greater detail at a formal launch event
in the spring.
Buncrana-based Mr. McCarter was elected on Monday at
the first full board meeting of the new company.
Other board members include eight community
representatives, six directly elected by the
community and two from the Inishowen Community
Forum.They also include County Councillors Bernard
McGuinness, Marian McDonald and Rena Donaghey;
Buncrana Town Councillor Daren Lalor and the County
Manager’s representative Aideen Doherty. The Social
Partners' representatives on the board are as
follows: Keith Roulston (IFA); Paddy Gallen (ICOS);
Mairead Diggin (IBEC) and Eugenia Moran (ICTU).
Statutory agencies represented include Anthony
Doogan (VEC); Thomas Timlin (FÁS); Madeline Guerin (HSE);
Owen Doyle (BIM); Ollie Fitzpatrick (Department of
Social and Family Affairs) and Danny McEleney
(Donegal County Enterprise Board). |
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