Tulla Cultural Centre situation a symptom of LEADER crisis

Speaking in Tulla, Co. Clare this Thursday Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has criticised the Fine Gael and Labour government over the LEADER debacle which is leading to huge delays in community projects receiving funding. Ní Riada was in Clare to speak alongside general election candidate Noleen Moran at the Sinn Féin organised ‘Defend Rural Ireland’ meeting in Scarriff.

Liadh Ní Riada said:

“LEADER is about supporting economic development in our small towns, villages and rural areas, through funding community projects and rural diversification, such as tourism and cultural initiatives.

“The LEADER money allocated to Clare by the Government is down 45% on the previous programme, and there is no sign of this money actually reaching the county any time soon. Chronic mismanagement and ham-fisted attempts to put the fund under ministerial control have led to huge delays.

“I met with the Commission’s head of unit for Ireland last week to raise concerns over the ongoing attempts by Alan Kelly to make good on Phil Hogan’s plan, which would see LEADER as a slush fund for local authority managers, rather than a genuine bottom-up, community-led programme for strategic funding.

“Not only has the fund been cut for Clare, and not only are community groups looking at huge delays in the funding coming on stream, but they don’t even know who to apply for funding to.

The Cnoc na Gaoithe cultural centre at Tulla is a fantastic community facility, and the management committee have terrific plans to continue its development. They have fundraised extensively and the resourse is a credit to them and the community. It is a pity that the ongoing mess with LEADER means that their plans to add accommodation to the centre, bringing in much needed tourism, will be delayed yet another year.

“Rural Ireland cannot stand much more of the negligence and ignorance of the political establishment in Dublin. Fianna Fáil, Labour and Fine Gael pay a lot of lip-service to rural Ireland, but after decades at the helm still don’t understand the damage their decisions are doing.” [END]