‘ Supporting Communities’ Teagasc - Rural Development Conference Galway 22 nd Feb 2008

1. ‘Supporting Communities’ Teagasc - Rural Development Conference Galway 22nd Feb 2008 Aileen Gilchrist Funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the European Union Structural Funds under the National Development Plan 2007-2013

2. Brief History of Pobal • ADM established in 1992 by the Irish Government in agreement with the EC to manage EU funding • 2005 Review of Role by DCRAGA • Pobal is a not-for-profit company with charitable status.

3. Mission “The delivery and management of programmes, which promote social inclusion, reconciliation and equality through integrated social and economic development within communities”

4. On behalf of Government 17 Programmes for 7 Departments, National Boards and the EU • Will distribute €380m to local groups • Will work with 4,400 communities & voluntary groups • These organisations employ some 9,300 people • Framework / service level agreements with Departments

5. Programmes by Ministry

6. Programmes by Ministry cont.

7. Intermediary Body Management & Monitoring of Finance & Performance Developmental and Strategic Support Supporting learning, analysis and evaluation – Policy Role of Pobal

8. What is Social Exclusion ? • Goes beyond the issues of poverty /income • Multiple level of disadvantage • Arises from a lack of access to education and employment opportunities, social networks, decision making structures as well as a lack of financial resources. • Quality of life issues • Social Exclusion in cumulative in nature

9. Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) • 1991 Pilot PESP • 1994-1999 Local Development Programme • 2000-2006 LDSIP 38 (18) Partnerships + 31 (25)Community Partnerships • 2007 Full county and country coverage for new programme • Social Inclusion Objectives with Clear Targeting aimed at Most Disadvantaged Groups • Boards- Sectoral Representation • Collective Effort / Partnership Approach/ Inclusive • Target Group Participation • Local solutions to local problems • To Produce & Implement local Strategic Plan • Pro-active Tackling Causes/Focused Interventions

10. LDSIP – Target Groups • Long-term Unemployed and those at risk of LTU • Under employed e.g. seasonal workers, low income farm families • Travellers • Early School Leavers • Migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers • Disadvantaged women, men and young people • Lone parents • People with disabilities • Lesbian, gays & bisexuals • Homeless people • Disadvantaged older people • Ex-prisoners & ex-offenders • Substance mis-users

11. Measures - LDSIP • Measure A - Services for the Unemployed • Measure B - Community Development • Measure C - Community-based Youth Initiatives

12. Martin Murphy and Michael Gleeson, Farmer Support, EIRÍ Corca Baiscinn

13. The Smallholders Initiative • To improve the viability of low-income farm families & sustain as many in rural areas • To co-ordinate a targeted socio-economic service to small farm households in the most disadvantaged rural areas • To develop practical ways of addressing hidden unemployment and social exclusion on the small- holding in rural Ireland • To influence national policy through demonstrating workable models of regenerating the rural economy.

14. Local Level • Rural Development Working Group • Target- Low Income Farm Families • Household/Socio-Economic Focus • Rural Development Officer- Outreach/Engage • Tailored Supports- One to one & Group • Information and Guidance • Training and Capacity Building • Diversification & Employment Opportunities

15. Patrick McEntee with Brian Smyth, Drumshanbo Livestock Mart

16. Specific Interventions • Entitlements - Farm Assist, REPS, Medical card, 3rd level support, RSS, Careers Allowance etc • On Farm - Lo call help line,Producer/Discussion Groups, Teagasc ‘Opp’, Farm a/c, Time/ Debt Management, Milk recording/ soil & silage sampling • On-Farm Enterprise -Business Planning ,Access Finance, Farmers Enterprise Assistance, Farmers Markets, Alternatives i.e. Organic, Honey, Hort, Bog Oak, Repair vintage cars,Equine Hydro Pool • Employment(FT/PT) Jobsclub, LES Mediator • Up-Skilling- Literacy, Stonewall Building, HGV, IT, Welding, Forklift, Hospitality CERT.

17. Smallholder InitiativeImpact / Indicators 2002 – Sept 2007 TotalsMale Female • Caseload 10,112 7,235 2,877 • Job placements 1,103 793 310 • Educ / training 3,813 2,374 1,439 • Enterprise(pre-start) 546 375 171 • New Enterprise 464 331 133 • Referred (to other) 3,478 2,642 836

18. Rural Transport Programme ‘To encourage innovative community-based initiatives to provide transport services in rural areas with a view to addressing the issue of social exclusion in rural Ireland which is caused by the lack of access to transport’ Dept. of Transport February 2007 Mainstreamed/National Coverage

20. 37 projects Vary in size-parish/county/ regional/ 8 islands Partnership response local community/ statutory / transport sector Locally planned Local drivers Flexible routing & stops Pre-booked services 2007- 1m passenger journeys Since Nov ‘02 over 3.6m passenger journeys 75% journeys door to door basis Passenger assistant available 1/3 of projects 20% services demand responsive Free Travel Pass Dept. of Social & Family Affairs €1.5m Rural Transport Programme

21. Models of Services • Own & Operate their own Vehicles • Subcontract to Other Transport Operators • Car Sharing Schemes • Co-ordinated Hackney Services • Voluntary Car Scheme • Pilot 7 Evening Services Scheme • Dept. of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs • Access Social activities

23. Rural Social Scheme - AIM • Income support to low income farmers and Fisherpersons/receipt primarily, long-term social welfare payments • Certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents available among low-income farmers and fisherpersons • 2,600 Participants • On behalf of Dept. of Commmunity Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.

24. Rural Social Scheme • Payroll Function/Administer Material Payments • Leader/ Udaras- Manage locally • Implement a Performance Indicator process • 19.5 hours per week farmer/fisherperson • Flexible arrangements e.g. week on week off, subject to the requirements/project.

25. Projects • Maintenance & enhancement of way marked ways, agreed walks, bog roads etc • Energy conservation work for the elderly and less well off • Village and countryside enhancement projects • Social care and care of the elderly, after-school/pre-school support groups • Environmental maintenance work –maintenance/care taking of community & sporting facilities • Projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres • Any other appropriate community-based projects.

26. South West RSS participants working on Mayo Abbey Organic Garden under the measure “Other appropriate community based projects”

27. FUTURE • Cohesion Process • Hold the Social Inclusion Agenda • Significant Opportunities for complementarity with the rural development agenda • Local Development Social Inclusion Programme • Expansion –National Coverage • Transition • Successor Programme/ Value for Money

28. Contact Details Aileen Gilchrist POBAL Holbrook House Holles St Dublin 2 01-2400747 www.pobal.ie agilchrist@pobal.ie