On Monday evening last 37 delegates from the European Parliament Committee for Regional Development visited Lifford as part of their two day visit to Northern Ireland and the North West region. The Mayor of Donegal County Council and the County Manager welcomed the delegation to Co. Donegal and provided them with a brief over view of what European monies has meant for this county and indeed the North West region over the last decade.
In his welcoming address the Mayor, Cllr. John Boyle stated that Donegal has experienced its own challenges particularly in relation to its position on the North West periphery of the island of Ireland and that through investment of EU funds such as the various Peace Programmes, Interreg, IFI and other EU funds Donegal has been assisted in dealing with these issues and in particular in supporting cross border co-operation with our neighbouring counties.
On this visit the delegation also got the opportunity to see at first hand a number of EU funded projects from both the public and community & voluntary sector. Over 15 projects were exhibited in the County House, Lifford and the delegates used this opportunity to meet the various project promoters to discuss the impact of the various projects on the region.
Following on from their visit to Lifford, the delegation travelled to Ballybofey where they stayed overnight in Jacksons Hotel. The five Councils in the North West Region Crossborder Group area i.e. Donegal, Derry, Limavady, Strabane and Magherafelt co-hosted a dinner for the delegation. This dinner was attended by both elected representatives and executives from these Councils along with representatives from Councils in Omagh, Sligo and Leitrim.
Mr. Michael O hÉanaigh, Director of Community, Culture and Enterprise, Donegal County Council stated that this event provided an opportunity for both delegates and local councils to discuss lessons learned from previous funding programmes and to highlight areas that still require support from such programmes. Mr. O hÉanaigh added that a number of the delegates were keen to visit Northern Ireland and the North West region to see at first hand the impact of EU funds on this region and that this visit was particularly interesting for new members states such as Poland who are experiencing very similar challenges.
The delegates continued with their visit to the North West Region on Tuesday were they visited a number of other successful EU funded projects in Leitrim and Sligo including the Green Box initiative in Leitrim.
Mr. Michael O h'Eanaigh, Director of Community, Culture and Enterprise, Donegal County Council, Ms. Marian Harkin, MEP, Mr. Jan Olbrycht, Vice Chair of Committee for Regional Development, Ms. Bairbre de Bruin MEP, Cllr. John Boyle, Mayor of Donegal County Council and Mr. Michael McLoone, County Manager
Ms Roisin Connolly, Strabane District Council discussing the HEART Project with a delegate.
For further information contact:
Anne Marie Conlon
A/Divisional Manager
Community, Culture and Enterprise
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72531
Mob: 087 9192275