KILDARE GENERAL, 21 June 2002: by Brian Byrne. "Far too many people are trying to do away with rural Ireland," Anna May McHugh, MD of the National Ploughing Association, said at Punchestown last night. "And I'm very glad to see the rural emphasis in the latest KELT programme."
The woman who is probably most associated with enterprise in rural Ireland was officially launching the KELT Leader Plus programme, which has over 5m euros to spend in the county between now and 2006.
It's the second Leader programme for the county - KELT was set up in 1995 under the Leader II programme and has spent more than 10.6m euros of private and public money since then for the benefits of people, communities and local enterprise in Kildare.
Although the simple figures of 343 jobs sustained and created for that money, and some 136 businesses supported, might not appear to be much for the money, KELT CEO Justin Larkin says there is much more underlying benefit in the spending.
"For instance, more than 900 people received training supports through initiatives organised directly by KELT, and KELT grant-aid to other promoters for training resulted in a further 2,996 people receiving training in response to their needs," he said.
In the latest programme, KELT has selected a 'Quality of Life' theme from seven offered by the EU, which is funding the initiative to the tune of 3.8m euros. The National Rural Development Programme is providing some 1.2m euros to the fund.
The Leader Plus programme undertaken by KELT will also provide information and communication technologies (ICT) to rural areas as an integral part of its current programme.
"We see this as being important to dealing with the problem of isolation in rural communities," Justin Larkin says.
Under Leader Plus, KELT will consider projects under the broad headings of Analysis and Development, Alternative Agriculture, Training, Environmentally friendly initiatives, Rural/Agri Tourism, Innovative Rural Enterprises, Craft Enterprises, Local Services/Facilities, and Enhancement of the Natural/Built, Social/Cultural Environment.
Full details of the programme and its options and conditions are available on the organisation's website at www.kelt.ie
KELT chairman Ciaran Duggan said the evening at Punchestown was a 'celebration of achievement' in getting more than most Leader Plus applicants - KELT received the fourth highest allocation of any Leader company in Ireland.
"Now we face the challenge of spending these resources in the most beneficial way for the people of the county," he said.
An exclusive KNN interview with KELT CEO Justin Larkin can be heard here.
