Comhar na nOileán ready to deliver LEADER Programme in the Galway Gaeltacht
By Declan Varley
Comhar na nOileán have just advertised three new jobs to deliver the LEADER programme in the Galway Gaeltacht and their CEO, Majella Ní Chríocháin has said that they hope to open an office in the South Connemara Gaeltacht in the Autumn. Two of the new Project Officers/Administrators will be located there while the third will be located in Comhar’s main office on Inis Oírr.
Comhar na nOileán runs the LEADER programme on the offshore islands of Ireland and has been recently been given the LEADER Programme for the Galway Gaeltacht, following the liquidation of MFG last September. Their head office is in Inis Oírr, Árainn in the Galway Gaeltacht. They have been running the LEADER programme on the islands since the 90s. There are 24 members of Comhar’s Board (as with all Local Development Companies), 13 of whom are based in the Gaeltacht.
Majella Ní Chríocháin, Comhar’s CEO said about their taking on the LEADER programme in this area following the liquidation of MFG last September:
“We are delighted that we will be able to start this work shortly and that people in the Galway Gaeltacht will once again be able to avail of these funds. We have until the end of 2013 to approve grants under the LEADER Programme and we know that there are many community groups and private individuals out there who have been waiting almost a year to make applications. We are organising a number of public meetings over the next few weeks to inform people about the programme.”
Comhar invites individuals and those involved in community groups who have ideas for new projects to attend meetings in the following venues:
7.30pm Tuesday 14 August – Áras Shorcha Uí Ghuairim, Carna
7.30pm Wednesday 15 August – An Cheathrú Rua (Venue TBC)
7.30pm Thursday 16 August - Connemara Gateway Hotel, Oughterard
7.30pm Monday 20 August – Claregalway Hotel, Claregalway
Regarding those who already have a contract with MFG for their project and who have not yet drawn down all of the funds, Majella Ní Chríocháin says they are currently working on those files sent on to them by the Department of the Environment and will be in touch with them in the weeks ahead. There are however a number of files which are still with the Department or MFG’s liquidator.
For further information about the jobs advertised or the public meetings, contact Comhar na nOileán on 099 75096 or grainne@oileain.ie.
