The EU - Supporting Your Local CommunityIreland has been a net beneficiary from the EU Budget since accession in 1973. By the beginning of 2015, Ireland received over €72.5 billion. However, this does not include payments made directly to beneficiaries, such as research receipts.

The majority of Irish funding from the EU has come through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), providing direct income and market support to the agricultural sector. In 2015, Structural Funds provided €150m and the European Social Funds contributed over €24m towards education and training, social inclusion and supports for vulnerable sectors of Irish society.

For the 2014-2020 Programme, the majority of Irish funding will continue to come through CAP and Ireland can also still expect to receive significant receipts under structural fund spending. As in recent years, structural funding will continue to focus

on areas such as research, technology and innovation supporting SMEs, ICT, energy efficiency and education, training and labour activation measures. Additional funding opportunities will arise under the Horizon 2020, Erasmus, Connecting Europe and Cosme EU level programmes which cover research, education, infrastructure networks and SME competitiveness and a number of other smaller programmes.

With this support from Europe, Ireland is continuing to develop a clean, innovative and highly skilled economy, providing world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT, Research and Technology. Furthermore, Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world markets, with a reputation for excellence.

This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU has recently supported County Donegal.

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Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the laboratory to the market.

Ireland has been awarded a total of €273.3m for 622 participations and 472 projects. Here are some examples of how organisations in Donegal have been benefiting:

€3.2m Horizon 2020 funding for TAOIDE projectLetterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) is a research partner in a technology development project, TAOIDE (Technology Advancement of Ocean Energy Devices through Innovative Development of Electrical Systems to Increase Performance and Reliability).

CoLab at officially opened its extension, the North West Regional Science Park.

This extension houses 40 start-up companies, over 140 graduate-level employees and an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports businesses in the knowledge economy. The extended CoLab comprises of a 45,000 square ft. incubation centre and is an economic driver for regional development.

Cara Pharmacy Ltd in Ballyshannon, Donegal is a partner in a €2m project that is looking at codeine misuse and dependencies. Although not yet substantiated, anecdotal evidence suggests the problem is common, making it a concern for public health and pharmacy practice. EU-funded researchers are collecting evidence to feed into guidelines for pharmacies and doctors.

Codeine is a weak opiate, used for management of mild to moderate pain. It is often prescribed for coughs and can be bought without a prescription in many countries. Many people do not realise that with consecutive and/or excessive use, tolerance occurs over time and the user can experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped.

Encouraging women into computingIn January 2016, the LYIT Department of Computing opened its doors to over 500 people for the second ‘Women in Computing’ event hosted by the Institute. The 500 plus crowd consisted of young girls from over 15 secondary schools in the county and Northern

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Ireland, their teachers, and leading lights from the technology industry.

Donegal County Council has been awarded INTERREG Funding of €1.6m to implement the ASCENT project. This will address the environmental challenges facing the conservation and enhancement of areas of natural beauty. The project will look at how to use and manage the mountains and upland areas responsibly. The pilot site is Errigal mountain in Donegal.

Donegal County Council is one of 8 European partners working on the recently approved ‘Hericoast’ project, examining the management of cultural heritage in our coastal landscape.

The EU has approved a new ERNACT led innovation project SECURE (Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions), worth €1.8 m, which is aimed at transferring innovative energy solutions for housing and public infrastructure, developed in Scandinavia and Atlantic Canada to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This follows the award of almost €4m for two other projects – one dealing with innovation in the food chain and the other with new public investment models for high speed broadband services in rural areas.

The main objective of the innovation project SECURE is to study, transfer and pilot new solutions for improving energy efficiency and renewable sources in public housing, lighting and public buildings.

The project has ambitious targets to meet. Each region must establish a Smart Energy Community in a village, rural area or neighbourhood of a city. This will be supported by transferring 15 energy solutions to retrofit 24 houses across the project regions,

• increasing efficiency by 5% in three public buildings, and installing alternative or

• renewable energy sources in public the infrastructure for example street lighting.

Donegal County Council will also benefit from funding of €252k to implement the WaterPro project. The project will develop eco-efficient tools and models for Stormwater Runoff Management practices and environmental protection for the NPA (Northern Periphery and Artic) which is a sparsely populated region.

Arranmore Island Communities Project benefiting 47 homes and 6 businesses through energy efficiency upgradesArranmore has made great strides towards becoming a sustainable energy community. The project is set to make substantial energy savings for 47 homes and 6 businesses within the Arranmore community. Works underway include upgrades to lighting, wall and roof insulation, as well as the installation of heat

SEAI CEO Jim Gannon commends community initiatives on visit to Arranmore Island community project

pumps and high efficiency gas and oil fired boiler upgrades with heating controls.

Sustainable Energy

Donegal County Council is leading the ASCENT project, which was launched in Dunlewey, in the shadows of Errigal, one of the pilot sites chosen for this project.

New EU developments aim to support entrepreneurship and innovation among SMEs to drive new firm creation, expansion and employment and to help with the need to overcome a range of operational barriers.

There is one Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Letterkenny, Donegal that supplies business information and advice, training and mentoring, network opportunities and financial supports including Feasibility Grants up to €15k; Grants up to €150k; Loans up to €20k. This office offers a range of programmes that have been tailored to suit the needs of local companies.

The Food CoastThe Food Coast, Donegal’s Good Food Initiative, was developed by LEO Donegal as a programme to support development, growth and quality in Donegal’s food sector.

This initiative acts as a central platform for establishing Donegal as a Food County, providing food businesses in Donegal with the opportunity to connect with fellow businesses while engaging the support services of the LEO Donegal.

environmental and sustainability concerns. The NICHE project is addressing these challenges and exploring the potential of using information technology to increase innovation in European regions where food is important for jobs and economic growth. NICHE aims to develop innovation among companies among the partnering countries.

Creative DonegalLEO Donegal has engaged with the creative sectors and other stakeholders to develop a Strategic Action Plan for Creative Entrepreneurship for Donegal to enable the exchange of ideas and to stimulate new opportunities. This creative partnership consists of representatives from the creative industries sectors in Donegal and representatives from the public sector support agencies and organisations.

Some of the training courses that are offered by Donegal LEO are:

• The Food Academy Programme which links Food Producers to Retail Opportunity;

• Two European Programmes (Ecreate promotes tourism along historical and cultural routes to assist enterprises in rural

The LEO Donegal also runs three local networks: The Donegal Women in Business Network, Profitnet which is a facilitated peer learning programme with over 200 businesses participating and The Food Coast Network which is open to anyone with an interest in the county’s food sector.

The LEO Donegal is also a member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which is the world’s largest support network for SME’s and is helping Donegal companies to make the most of business and technology opportunities in the EU and other major global markets.

SEA (Student Enterprise Programme)Each year over 22,000 students all over Ireland find out what it’s like to be their own boss and run their own business by taking part in the Student Enterprise Programme, which is run by LEO Donegal.

The SEA’s are open to second level students around Ireland and this year saw strong interest in Donegal with 15 entries from 6 schools.

At county level, the winning schools were The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School and Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana. Winner of the senior category was Kitchen Kouture from the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, while the winner of the intermediate category was Inish WoodWorking of Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana. Scoil Mhuire went on to win the National Intermediate Category for their hand-crafted giftware.

Encouraging EntrepreneursLEO Donegal runs an annual Business Awards competition for local companies. In 2016, the winners of Best New Business Idea were John Bradley and John McNamara, of www.getbrain.fit, an empowering online brain training service which gives the brain a daily workout via quality content and stimulation. The winner of Best Established Business was Joe Bonnar Metal Crafts Ltd, from Letterkenny. Established in 1993, the business is one of the country’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of bespoke decorative craft metal work in a variety of metals for interior and exterior use.

Winners of Best Start Up Business were Richard and Olivia Finney for their business, The Counter, which began as a wine shop franchise, until they diversified into an independent wine and artisan food shop, with the addition of a coffee shop and food offering last year. They were also the overall winners of Donegal Business of the Year.

Supporting SMEs

NICHE - Building innovative food value chains in regionsThe food sector is faced with major challenges that arise from changes in the sector’s economic and other environments. The availability of safe, sustainable and healthy food has taken a new and pressing dimension in the light of an ever-growing global population and increasing

areas to be more competitive; Knowcities facilitates the access and transition to the knowledge economy and stimulates sustainable urban development).

• Accelerate is a Management Development Programme. Strategic Marketing and Branding Programme as well as a HR programme for business owners.

Donegal Food Coast

For further information please contact:

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel: 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu

www.euireland.ie www.facebook.com/EUIreland www.twitter.com/eurireland

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) aims to support a long- term sustainable seafood industry and to maximise the contribution of the seafood industry to the economies of coastal regions.

Ireland’s Fishing Industry generates about €891m in trade annually, with exports of €554m. Recently, funding of €12m was announced for the 7 newly established Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGS). This initial funding has supported a wide range of initiatives, targeting job creation, social inclusion, tourism, community regeneration and market development around our coastline. County Donegal is part of the FLAG North (the BallyShannon to Muff area) which received €1.95m funding.

More than €1.6 billion was paid to over 130,000 Irish farmers last year under a variety of EU agriculture schemes. Currently, Irish farmers receive EU funding of €1.2 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007, Irish farmers have received over €12 billion. Further support of €2.3 billion was received through rural development programmes, with a further €2.2 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period. In recent years, these programmes

accounted for around 90% of our total EU public sector receipts. In 2015, CAP payments of almost €81m were distributed in Donegal to 8,782 recipients, giving an average payment of €9,197 which is the 4th smallest in the country.

Rural areas also receive other supports through the Rural Development Programme as well as through investment in towns and villages, as well as in structural programmes.

The Leader Initiative continues to support communities, tourism, local businesses as well as towns and villages. Donegal Leader companies were awarded over €281k in funding in 2015 and Donegal has been allocated almost €13m for the 2014-2020 programme.

A strong emphasis is being put on supporting employment and social inclusion for youth. The EU Youth Programme is strongly focused on helping the unemployed to return to the labour market, with particular attention to youth and long-term unemployed people.

Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) provides support for the following Youth Programmes throughout Donegal:

• Foróige Youth Development Scheme

• Donegal Youth Service Ltd Daybreak Programme

• Youth Information Centres Donegal Town and Letterkenny

• Local Youth Club Grant Scheme

• Schools Completion Programme

Donegal also has 5 Youthreach centres in Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Gortahork, Letterkenny and Lifford that offer a wide range of learning and training opportunities. These centres also provide an extensive health promotion programme covering areas such as positive mental health, sexual health, alcohol and drugs, road safety, citizenship and money management.

Eramsus+ provides funding to Irish educational organisations to carry out a wide range of projects involving staff, learners and the wider educational community. Recent figures show that there were 4,714 participants from Ireland, which was a 9% increase since last year.

LYIT students who went to study at European universities. Barry Gregory (Drogheda), Sinead Jones (Glencolmcille), Stephanie Krebs (Tubbercurry), Michaela Woods (Bunbeg), Laura Murray (Letterkenny). Julie O’Connell (Letterkenny) and Sharon McGlinchey (Ballybofey).

Coastal

Regions

Helping Rural Development

Education & Youth