On the 12th of June, John Curran T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, launched the new integrated Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Company following the conclusion of the cohesion process.

The Kilkenny LEADER Partnership brings together elements of the former Castlecomer District Community Development Network, Kilkenny Community Action Network and Barrow Noir Suir Rural Development Ltd. These companies have in the past successfully delivered both national and European programmes. The new Company will provide a single access point for local communities to a far wider range of programmes than heretofore.

At the launch, Minister Curran stated that “I have every confidence that, in their incarnation as Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, the elements of the previous companies will continue to deliver successful programmes well into the future”.

Minister Curran emphasised his commitment to the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the communities the Programme serves.   The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme has made a considerable contribution to the task of countering disadvantage and in promoting equality and social and economic inclusion.

The new Rural Development Programme has already been providing hugely valuable support to our farming community both locally and throughout Ireland through schemes such as REPs, Natura 2000 and supporting farmers early retirement and the Young Farmers Installation Scheme and Farm Modernisation. The upcoming roll-out of the LEADER measures under the same Programme will see a very valuable focus on ‘the Quality of Life in Rural Areas’ and assistance for the ‘Diversification of the Rural Economy’.

Minister Curran added:

We are all well aware that we face a challenging economic climate and rural areas can sometimes feel the brunt of economic downturns more than urban areas, so it is very encouraging to see that the new company has been established to aid, encourage and advance rural development and social inclusion in county Kilkenny.