Cavan Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society Ltd.

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Cavan Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society
Ltd.
John Toland Tourism Development Officer 9th
November 2007 How our LAG Operates?
Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Presentation Format

• Introduction to region, LAG history to present
  day, current programmes structure of LAG (CMRD)
• Management decision making process
• Capacity Building Its about giving communities
  a voice

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
3
Presentation Format

• Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding?
• Looking forward
• potential for cooperation between Ireland,
  Estonia Sweden?
• Looking forward
• Please feel free to ask questions?

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
4
Introduction my role

• Administered LEADER / NDP Rural/Agri Tourism
  measure 1.5 million
• Tourism Training/Development
• Tourism Networking
• Coordinated Grundtvig GOAL project
• Chairperson of Rural Tourism International
  Training Network
• www.talktourism.ie
• www.cmrd.ie

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Cavan Monaghan Rural Development Co-operative
Society Limited.

• Region Profile
• Two border counties of Cavan Monaghan
• Area 3180 km sq
• Population 112,000
• Population density 35 p/km sq

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Characteristics of Region

• Border area 144km with N. Ireland
• Traditionally industry and enterprise focused
  around farming
• Rolling Drumlin landscape and lakes
• No population mass greater than 6,000
• Very little foreign investment
• Employment based on indigenous industry

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Farming Characteristics

• Land suitable for producing grass
• Small farm size
• Part-time farming
• Dairying plays key role
• Alternative farm enterprises
• Mushrooms
• Poultry

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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CMRD Who we are?

• Community based structure established in 1991
• Pilot LAG in Ireland to deliver LEADER
• Established under a co-operative structure
• Dairy co-operatives in our region were key in the
  establishment of CMRD
• In 1991, chronic rural unemployment emigration,
  skilled activists at community level, emphasis on
  exploiting EU funds to maximum

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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CMRD Who we are?

• Current status, CMRD is
• independent legal entity
• primary rural development agency in area
• non profit making organisation
• Non-Government Organisation (NGO)
• cost efficient, effective proven track record
• seen as one of strongest proactive rural
  development organisations in Ireland
• multiple-programming agency (EU state)

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Multiple-programming agency (12m)

• LEADER National Rural Development Prog
• Peace II Tourism, Crafts, Heritage
• Peace II 2 Heritage prog with Co Councils
• Peace II Tourism without Borders
• GRUNDTVIG GOAL online adult learning
• INTERREG IIIA Social economy networking

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Multiple-programming agency

• INTERREG IIIA
• tourism training prog.
• Rural Social Scheme
• community based employment for farm families
• LEADER cross border fund for Entrepreneurs
• CLAR village enhancement, signage, 3 phase
  electricity, community grants, top-up scheme

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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CMRDs Main Roles

• Administer LEADER Programme
• Developmental Support
• Mentoring, training, product development,
  research, business plan assistance, marketing
  support
• Grant aiding of specific projects
• Capital Grant Assistance
• 2001-2006 - 4.96m LEADER
• Additional LEADER NDP funds 300,000

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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CMRD - Board

• Social Partners
• 3 Co-operatives / Dairies
• 3 Farm Organisations
• 2 Financial Institutions
• 6 Community voluntary sector
• CMRD Manager

• State Agencies
• 2 Monaghan County Council
• 2 Cavan County Council
• 1 Monaghan Co. Enterprise Board
• 1 Cavan Co. Enterprise Board
• 1 National Farm Advisory Body (Teagasc)
• 1 National Tourism Body (Fáilte Ireland)

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Staff Structure

• Manager
• Administrator / Accounts
• Tourism Development Officer
• Crafts Development Officer
• Community Development Officer
• Rural Social Scheme Coordinator
• 6 supervisors of RSS over 200 workers in
  community
• 1.5 secretarial support staff

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• Board meets once a month
• Chairperson, Vice, Treasurer Secretary
• Administration Sub-committee
• Financial reviews
• Staffing issues (pay reviews, recruitment etc)
• Cohesion Committee
• Government directive to amalgamate Rural
  Development (LEADER) Social Inclusion
  (Partnership)

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• Application process
• Enquiries, initially encouraged to expand
• Group or private applications treated the same
• Development staff ensure application meets
  necessary criteria
• Development staff evaluates/appraises
  applications
• Project evaluation presented to Evaluation
  Committee

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• Application process
• Evaluation Committee is a sub-committee of LAG
  Board
• 10 on committee (some external members)
• Meets once a month (11 months)
• Project is recommended, rejected or differed
• Projects are brought before Board for final
  decision
• Also CMRD led projects

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• Communication strategy
• Public awareness raising of eligibility criteria
  for funding principles of bottom-up approach
  rural development
• Achieved through public meetings, development
  staff, soft supports, needs analysis, web-sites,
• In-house Newsletter, Newspaper articles,
  advertising, radio interviews
• Partnership approach with local government
  agencies other developmental bodies

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• Management has autonomy
• As indeed do the Development Officers
• Principles of Bottom-up Approach Rural
  Development are core to CMRD
• Management Report to Board
• Adhere to best practice in terms of management
  administration
• Auditing is time consuming necessary
• Strategic Plan Developed by LAG

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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LAG Management Decision Making Process

• External Influences
• LAG seen as threat to local political (public)
  representatives
• Often project applications receive letters of
  support
• Rejected projects
• Overall interference is minimal

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Any Questions???

• LAG Management Decision Making Process

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
26
What are your LAG priorities?

• Põlvamaa Partnership Board
• Valgamaa Partnership Board
• Võrumaa Partnership Board
• Tartumaa Arendusselts
• Piirveere Liider

• Write up on flip chart or board the 3 main
  priorities for your LAG.

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LEADER - Basic Principles

• Social, Economic, Cultural and environmental
  Development
• Networking Co-operation skills transfer
• Small Medium Scale Interventions
• Reinforce economic environment
• Flexibility
• Bottom Up approach Local ownership

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Capacity Building

• Overall adoption of a hands on approach by LAG to
  up-skill ordinary members of the community
• All development staff should undertake to assist
  communities, by acting as mentors
• Identify needs
• Its about working with communities where the
  structures do not exist!
• Set an example show others the way!

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Capacity Building

• Training Education (for example)
• Management Skills for Voluntary Committees
• Facilitation Skills
• Awareness raising information events
• Planning permission
• Insurance for the voluntary sector

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Capacity Building

• Volunteerism Report
• Sustainable Development for Community Groups
  (2007)
• Annual Community Leadership Awards
• Stone wall building traditional skill
• Rural Tourism Marketing Promotion Training
• Local Tourist Guiding Course

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Any Questions???

• Capacity Building
• Its about giving communities a voice,
• And about adopting your strategy to meet the
  communities needs

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
32
Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding???

• NO
• LEADER funding remains the core funding for the
  LAG

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
33
Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding?

• In our case, the principles of Rural Development
  remain at the core
• we have accessed other funds
• Interim funds to carry LAG over between on period
  of funding to the next

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
34
Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding?

• Many of the programmes were in partnership with
  other agencies
• Peace II
• Heritage, Crafts Tourism
• Retained core rural development principles
• Issues
• Auditing reporting
• LAG Objectives drain on resources
• Overcome by not undertaking lead role

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
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Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding?

• Access to EU funds
• Communication strategy (will attract partners)
• Willingness to lead projects???
• Greater emphasis on Transnational projects
  between LAGs across EU
• Select projects which reflect the
  activities/priorities of your LAG

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
36
Any Questions???

• Can a LAG operate without LEADER funding?

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
37
The Next Step??? 2007-2013

• Cohesion
• Top down approach
• many ???
• Greater emphasis on cooperation across EU
• Discuss potential for projects Ireland Estonia
  - Sweden

Funded by the Irish Government under the National
Development Plan and the European Union under the
EAGGF structural fund.
38
Thank you!

• John Toland
• tourism_at_cmrd.ie
• 353 49 4338477
• www.talktourism.ie
• www.cmrd.ie
• www.cavanmonaghancrafts.com