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 Cork.

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Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven 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 Cork have been benefiting:

UCC are partners in a €3.3m project that could help to further improve the marine data products and services offered by Copernicus, the European Earth Observation programme. Satellite data can tell a lot about the state of the seas, but scientists are not yet able to exploit this data to its full potential. This project is looking into enriching Europe’s marine data products and services, such as those revealing the chemical make-up of our oceans.

UCC is involved in a €8m project that is studying compulsive behaviour.

The Tactics programme is trying to identify the genetic and neural underpinnings of compulsivity in children and adolescents, and explore new possibilities for treatment.

The research is focussing on three types of illness: autism spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) and conditions linked to impulse control, which notably include attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

Findings so far indicate that young patients’ inability to pursue long-term rewards may be linked with an over-active glutamate system. The team has also spotted a possible connection between compulsivity and insulin.

A Cork-based company, CLEANGROW Ltd is involved in the €3.8m TIMESCALE project that is investigating the feasibility of growing food crops in space and examining whether this might provide astronauts with long-term supplies of food and oxygen.

Astronauts who undertake short journeys or spend time at the International Space Station (ISS) are completely dependent on supplies of oxygen, water and food being sent up from Earth, which is a huge amount of cargo.

The ability to grow crops in space is therefore a key component in making long distance space travel feasible. TIMESCALE aims to develop a closed regenerative life support system for the ISS where water, nutrients, air and waste can be recycled continuously. Astronauts would eat food grown in space,

with the resulting waste turned into fertilizer for plants. This in turn would create oxygen and more food.

This research has implications for agriculture at home. Sustainable greenhouse-based crop production methods could lead to a significant reduction in fertilizer and water use.

FluidiamonAnother Cork company, SENSL Technologies, is involved in a €5.5m project that allows doctors to make a diagnosis on whether cancer is present or not from tiny samples.

Smaller needles can be used for extracting the samples, with less side effects for patients.

For people with suspect breast or prostate cancer, a common approach is to remove a sample for diagnosis of the suspected tumour with a large needle. This method can be painful and lead to severe side effects, such as infections or the accidental transfer of cancerous cells in a tumour to the bloodstream and other parts of the body. The new system reduces these risks.

The Marine Institute’s Explorer’s Education Programme is growing and is now available in Cork as well as Galway, Mayo, Clare and Waterford and is delivered by centres including Lifetime Lab, at the Old Waterworks, Cork. The centres will be introducing marine based education modules to more than 3,000 primary school children during the next school year (2016-2017).

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Marine Institute researchers and pupils from Cork Educate Together study the survey data recovered from RV Celtic Explorer’s latest mission, mapping the sea-floor of the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to the west coast of Ireland

A smart agenda is being developed in Cork that will build on the existing assets in the region and will help position Cork as a ‘World-Class Smart Region’. To achieve this, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Nimbus Research Centre and Tyndall National Institute have established the Cork Smart Gateway.

The Cork Smart Gateway aims to enhance the reputation of Cork as an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest, where public infrastructure and public service provision utilise best in class technology solutions and one which allows all stakeholders to participate in decision making and enjoy

an enhanced environment. Projects include Next Generation Technology at the Spike Island Tourist Experience, a Photovoltaic System for Ballyvolane Fire Station, online County Library Services and development of e-learning technology by local IT companies for children at the Shine Centre for Autism.

€5m Funding for Cork City ProjectsCork will divide €5m funding between two projects. The first one is the development of the Marina Park area to provide a contemporary City Park with a focus on water-based activities, play and a range of event spaces. In conjunction with this, there

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CORK-based technology company, Sensl Technologies

Urban Development

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are plans to change the perception of the industrial-looking Monahan Road area to an attractive office location.

The second Cork City project consists of a dedicated cycle and pedestrian bridge across the North Channel of the River Lee, linking Merchants Quay to Harley Street. The new bridge will be highly visible and will create a new landmark for the city.

A Mallow project will redevelop the town hall as an Arts and Cultural Centre. The centre will retain the existing tourism office and will provide facilities such as a café, studio/workshop space and youth bank facility.

Cork received the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland Public Sector Award 2016 and recognised Cork County Council (CCC) as the first local authority in Ireland to develop and implement an Energy Management System that is fully certified to ISO 50001 standards. The key challenge was to develop a system that could deal with the diversity of services provided by CCC, ranging from road maintenance and street lighting to running leisure centres and libraries. CCC has provided a roadmap and template, allowing other local authorities to follow in their footsteps.

Pictured at the awards are (from left) Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council, Winner of The Public Sector Award; Paul Walsh, Campus Ireland Energy Lead, J&J Ireland winner of the coveted Leadership Award; and Kevin Barry, Dell EMC, winner of the Large Business Award at the 2016 SEAI Sustainable Energy Awards. Pic: Naoise Culhane

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 are three Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Cork that supply business information and advice, training and mentoring, networking opportunities and financial supports, such as Feasibility Grants up to €15k; Grants up to €150k; Loans up to €20k. The Cork City LEO office also offers opportunities to join forces at international exhibitions such as Showcase, Futur Alia, and Food and Hospitality Ireland that would be financially outside the limits of most SMEs. Cork LEOs work with Enterprise Ireland offering a range of supports including funding, export assistance and R&D support services.

Other supports offered by Cork South LEO include Women in Business Network, Erasmus for Youth Entrepreneurs and a Food Academy, Cork North LEO offers clients the

Co-founder of GoCambio Ian O’Sullivan and Managing Director Rosie Mansfield with the winning trophy from the South Cork Regional Finals.

facilities at an Enterprise Centre by providing dedicated co-working facilities such as ‘hot-desks’, offices, training and conference space a to support businesses and communities in the Cork region.

The LEOs also stimulate entrepreneurship by supporting locals to compete in the Enterprise Awards National Championships. Youghal-based company, GoCambio scooped top prize at the South Cork LEO showcase and awards event and went on to represent South Cork at the 2016 National Enterprise Awards. GoCambio provides a skills sharing experience for backpackers. This company won the top prize of €5k.

Junior Entrepreneurs in Cork also scored well in the school competition. St Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville, North Cork, created Bring a Fairy Home, which was the design and manufacture of tooth-fairy homes for children with a dental hygiene message. Maria Immaculuta Community College, Dunmanway, West Cork were also awarded a Special Merit for their project Citosc.

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 €205m were distributed to 13,421 recipients in Cork, giving an average payment of €15,260 which is the 11th largest 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.

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The Leader Initiative continues to support communities, tourism, local businesses as well as towns and villages. Cork Leader companies were awarded almost €4m in funding in 2015 (including Ballyhoura which straddles East Limerick and North Cork) and Cork has been allocated almost €14m for the 2014-2020 programme.

Supporting SMEs

Helping Rural Development

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

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Communities and tourism projects continued to be assisted and examples are:

• The Nano Nagle Centre which received €35k funding to upgrade the Heritage Centre and to open a Sustainable Cookery School.

• Cork Road Resident’s Association was awarded over €29k towards the enhancement of Clancy Street Park and Playground.

• Inniscarra Lake Tourism Development received €133.5k to develop an amenity walk at Inniscarra Lake.

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 return to the labour market, with particular attention to youth and long-term unemployed people.

Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) has responsibility for administering funding of over €2.5m to over 35 youth projects and services across Cork City and County. Youth Work Services are provided on the Cork ETBs behalf by a number of voluntary youth organisations – YMCA, Foróige, Youthwork Ireland Cork, Cobh Youth Services, Cork Simon, Meitheal Mara, Good Shepherd Services and Churchfield Trust.

Springboard+ is financing part-time and full-time education places to reskill and upskill those looking for employment. In response to changing business needs, almost half the places provided are on ICT courses, reflecting changing demands in this sector. New skills are also required by high-level manufacturing and international financial services, among others. In Cork, courses are available in Griffith College, Cork Institute of Technology, Innopharma Labs and Equal Ireland.

Le Cheile runs a mentoring programme for young people and their mentors recently participated in Traveller Culture Awareness training. The course was delivered by members of the Travelling community in Cork

and looked at areas such as health, housing, education and policy.

The Area-Based Childhood (ABC) programme aims to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. The programme has a particular emphasis on improving health, educational and social outcomes for children and young people, and on improving the effectiveness of existing services for them. Northside Community Health Initiative run this project in the Knocknaheeny area.

Erasmus+ 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 on last year.

Mahon Community Development received over €16k towards their project ‘Building Walls, Breaking Walls’ which was a youth exchange programme for young people from Switzerland, Ireland, Israel and Palestine.

The YMCA in Ballincollig also received over €7.7k funding for their European Voluntary Service project. Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service were awarded €20k for their ‘Unplugged’ project, a part-time music and arts projects aimed at 16-18 year old students.

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 Cork is part of the FLAG South (West bank of the river Blackwater at Youghal to county boundary West of Lauragh) which received €1.9m funding.

Irish Atlantic Seafood Company won the 2015 Priz d’Elite for Europe’s best ‘seafood product line’ and was the first Irish company to take the award. The product was developed at BIM’s Seafood Development Centre in County Cork, which provides expertise and support to help seafood companies bring their fish products to market.

Dare Technology, based at the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster in Cork was recently awarded a Phase 1 Award to develop innovative renewable technology on ships. Dare Technology’s first product is a marine grade, portable wind turbine for commercial marine vessels (Hi-GEN).

Nano Nagle centre in Mallow - Cork

Coastal

Regions

Education & Youth