The EU - Supporting Your Local CommunityIreland has received approximately euro725 billion funding since joining the EU in 1973 In addition to these funds Ireland has also benefited in recent years from funding for research projects In 2014 research receipts amounted to euro127 million and a further euro110 million was paid in 2013

The majority of Irish funding from the EU now comes through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) The next largest amount of funding comes from the Structural and Cohesion Funds which have contributed considerable investment into our transportation educational and water-related infrastructures as well as educational training and other supports used to up-skill our workforce From 2014 to 2020 structural funding will focus mainly on areas such as research technology and innovation supporting small medium enterprises (SMEs) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) energy efficiency and education training and labour activation measures

Ireland is developing a clean innovative and highly skilled economy providing world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT Research and Technology Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world markets These investments are providing a further stimulus in every region of Ireland and are supporting Wexfordlsquos economic development and employment generation

This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU supports Irish citizens throughout every county in Ireland

In 2014 the European Unionrsquos new research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 came into force It is designed to make it easier for researchers and businesses (including SMEs) to collaborate on projects A key element of Horizon 2020 is a proposal to join forces with the private sector and member states of the EU to achieve results that one country or company is less likely to achieve alone

Around euro22 billion will be invested in this to boost innovation in potentially high growth sectors that will generate high quality jobs Much of the funding will go to public-private partnerships called Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) that will carry out research into innovative medicines fuel cells and hydrogen aeronautics bio-based industries and electronics

Irish participants in existing JTIs have already received over euro125 million from the EU research budget Here are some successful examples of this in Wexford

LANDMARK project funded euro53 million from Horizon 2020Teagasc in Johnstown Castle County Wexford are leading a major EU consortium of leading academic and applied research institutes chambers of agriculture and policy makers in a project called LANDMARK that will develop a coherent framework for soil management aimed at sustainable food production across Europe

Continued on next page

Wexford Campus

continued from front page

LANDMARK addresses one of the most urgent challenges for European agriculture as the number of mouths to feed from each parcel of land continues to rise But the ecological footprint that we can afford ourselves continues to shrink Last autumn the UN revised its projections for population growth and it is now expected to continue to grow and approach 11 billion people by 2100 These new figures will certainly fuel the debate whether the world including Europe is running out of land

euro617k funding for a knowledge transfer programme to support a Cancer BiobankBiostan Ireland based in Rosslare was a partner in a recent project that worked with The King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) in Jordan a highly accredited hospital which treats over 3500 new adult and paediatric cancer patients annually from Jordan and its neighbouring countries KHCC wished to maintain its pioneering position in cancer detection and treatment and wanted to establish a state-of-the-art biospecimen repository to store and archive tissue samples for use in cancer research with the support and experience of experts in biobanking and quality management from Trinity College Dublin and Biostan Ireland

Although there is no IT in Wexford facilities at Waterford IT (WIT) are available to Wexford residents and businesses

New Frontiers ProgrammeWexford Chamber of Commerce works with the New Frontiers partners WIT and the Institute of Technology Carlow to deliver services to Wexford entrepreneurs The New Frontiers programme is an intensive training and support programme that provides desk space mentoring business master classes networking plus

Wexford

Cross Border Funding The Ireland Wales Programme 2014-2020 has funding of euro100 million available to people living on either side of the sea including Cork Kerry and Tipperary The 2007-2013 Programme was managed by the Southern Regional Assembly in Waterford and this round is being run by their Welsh counterpart The focus of this funding is on sustainable jobs and growth with three main priorities

bull Cross Border Innovationbull Adaption of the Irish Sea and Coastal Communities to Climate

Change bull Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage (with a focus on

tourism)

The Coracle Project received euro16 million funding to stimulate creative communities between South-West Wales and South-East Ireland Wexford Arts Centre was a partner in this

The project led to a working partnership between participants and creative projects are showcased in a number of locations giving local artists opportunities to exhibit abroad An MBA programme in Professional Arts Management was also created from this as well as creative working groups such as the Wales Ireland Spoken Word and Poetry Alliance

The Wales Ireland Network for Innovative Photovoltaic Technologies (WIN-IPT) is an industry-driven initiative designed to promote innovation and enhance business opportunities for SMEs working in the area of Photovoltaic (PV) technologies This is part-funded through the Ireland-Wales Programme

The PV sector is growing rapidly however Ireland and Wales are lagging behind EU averages The development of a network of expertise to provide research-informed knowledge in addition to laboratory and manufacturing support is required to bring the cross-border PV market into line with EU norms

WIN-IPT is creating an inter-regional (West Wales and South-East Ireland) hub of PV expertise through knowledge transfer between higher education research institutes industry and local authorities It delivers direct research and development assistance and consultancy

euro15k in financial support to accelerate business start-ups It is for potential entrepreneurs who have a well thought-out innovative business idea or an innovative technology that has the potential to be developed into a scalable high potential start-up company

Wexford-Savannah Research ProjectA project on emigration from Wexford is being researched by WIT School of Humanities

In the mid to late nineteenth century the port city of Savannah in the southern United States became a destination for thousands of Irish emigrants particularly emigrants from the South East Shipping companies like the Graves company of New Ross facilitated what amounts to a mass emigration from Wexford and parts of south Kilkenny to Georgia the School of Humanities at WIT has entered into a unique collaboration with the JFK Trust the Centre for Irish Studies at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro Georgia and the Georgia Historical Society to investigate Wexford-Savannah emigration

Wexford

Currently Irish farmers receive EU funding of euro12 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007 Irish farmers have received a total of euro105 billion Further support of euro23 billion was received through rural development programmes with a further euro22 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period In recent years these programmes accounted for around 90 of our total EU public sector receipts

The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by providing support initiatives in the area of ruralagri-tourism local enterprise development and community facilities The LEADER initiative will provide euro250 million in financial resources of which Wexford has been allocated a budget of euro98 million

Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this programme

Business Supportbull Beryl Power from The Rug Hub received euro36k to further

expand and develop her rug laundry and repair business which services horse-owners in the South East of Ireland

bull Carrigbyrne Cheeses received euro24k to purchase a reconditioned cheese wrapping machine

bull Keyflicker Solutions in Enniscorthy was awarded funding of almost euro13k for equipment and also to set up the company website

Heritagebull The Irish Agricultural Museum in Johnstown Castle was

awarded euro100k to renovate its facilities and to install a lift in the museum It was awarded the title lsquoBest Museum of 2014rsquo title by The Irish Industrial Heritage Association

Village Renewalbull Duncannon received over euro915k to construct a childrenrsquos

playground together with an adult exercise area complete with equipment

bull Monamolin was able to upgrade footpaths boundary planting and fencing with funding of over euro41k

bull Rathdangan installed a walking track complete with lighting with euro35k funding awarded towards the project

Tourismbull New Ross Coarse Angling received over euro30k to construct a

new extension to the existing visitors centrebull Kilmore Quay received over euro37k towards marketing and

promotional costs This includes a redesign of its website and purchase of new computer equipment

Irish Agricultural Museum - Johnstown Castle

Supporting Local Enterprise A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up grow and export As part of this new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been established within Local Authorities (replacing the existing County Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support services for micro and small business The new LEOs are responsible at local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting business development They are the ldquoFirst Stop Shopsrdquo through which all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly fast-tracked to the next level of support

In 2014 capital funding of almost euro91 million was made available to LEOs throughout Ireland to provide direct grant assistance for micro-enterprises employing up to 10 staff and training and development supports for micro and small businesses Wexford received over euro3 million

Promoting RuralDevelopment

A number of Financial Instruments aimed at building more sustainable innovative start-ups and to support expansion of small companies are available for SMEs including grants for start-ups business expansion and feasibility studies Micro Finance can also be arranged

Enterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support marketing exporting training and research and development

Wexfordrsquos Young EntrepreneursThe winner of the Best Idea category was Richard Murphy who impressed the judges with his business lsquoMyMoodandMersquo which is an online health and holistic platform The winner of the lsquoBest Start-uprsquo category was 2014 lsquoIreland Best Young Entrepreneurrsquo National Finalist Ian Coleman from Clonard Ian was a previous county winner in the lsquoBest Idearsquo category and was the sole Wexford representative at the 2014 National Finals In the year since Ian has progressed his idea and his website wwwlifebitesie went live Finally the lsquoBest Established Businessrsquo trophy went to D OrsquoSullivan Consulting Engineers Diarmaid OrsquoSuilleabhainrsquos company has been in business since 2009 and although it operates out of Gorey it covers most of the eastern part of the country

Wexford

Currently Irish farmers receive EU funding of euro12 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007 Irish farmers have received a total of euro105 billion Further support of euro23 billion was received through rural development programmes with a further euro22 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period In recent years these programmes accounted for around 90 of our total EU public sector receipts

The LEADER Initiative was established to improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of the rural economy by providing support initiatives in the area of ruralagri-tourism local enterprise development and community facilities The LEADER initiative will provide euro250 million in financial resources of which Wexford has been allocated a budget of euro98 million

Here are some of the more recent projects funded through this programme

Business Supportbull Beryl Power from The Rug Hub received euro36k to further

expand and develop her rug laundry and repair business which services horse-owners in the South East of Ireland

bull Carrigbyrne Cheeses received euro24k to purchase a reconditioned cheese wrapping machine

bull Keyflicker Solutions in Enniscorthy was awarded funding of almost euro13k for equipment and also to set up the company website

Heritagebull The Irish Agricultural Museum in Johnstown Castle was

awarded euro100k to renovate its facilities and to install a lift in the museum It was awarded the title lsquoBest Museum of 2014rsquo title by The Irish Industrial Heritage Association

Village Renewalbull Duncannon received over euro915k to construct a childrenrsquos

playground together with an adult exercise area complete with equipment

bull Monamolin was able to upgrade footpaths boundary planting and fencing with funding of over euro41k

bull Rathdangan installed a walking track complete with lighting with euro35k funding awarded towards the project

Tourismbull New Ross Coarse Angling received over euro30k to construct a

new extension to the existing visitors centrebull Kilmore Quay received over euro37k towards marketing and

promotional costs This includes a redesign of its website and purchase of new computer equipment

Irish Agricultural Museum - Johnstown Castle

Supporting Local Enterprise A key part of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to promote jobs and growth and to ensure that micro and small businesses can start up grow and export As part of this new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have been established within Local Authorities (replacing the existing County Enterprise Boards) with the aim of delivering more integrated support services for micro and small business The new LEOs are responsible at local level for cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting business development They are the ldquoFirst Stop Shopsrdquo through which all State supports for small and micro businesses can be accessed and where companies with clear high growth potential can be seamlessly fast-tracked to the next level of support

In 2014 capital funding of almost euro91 million was made available to LEOs throughout Ireland to provide direct grant assistance for micro-enterprises employing up to 10 staff and training and development supports for micro and small businesses Wexford received over euro3 million

Promoting RuralDevelopment

A number of Financial Instruments aimed at building more sustainable innovative start-ups and to support expansion of small companies are available for SMEs including grants for start-ups business expansion and feasibility studies Micro Finance can also be arranged

Enterprise Ireland also offers a number of grants for SMEs to support marketing exporting training and research and development

Wexfordrsquos Young EntrepreneursThe winner of the Best Idea category was Richard Murphy who impressed the judges with his business lsquoMyMoodandMersquo which is an online health and holistic platform The winner of the lsquoBest Start-uprsquo category was 2014 lsquoIreland Best Young Entrepreneurrsquo National Finalist Ian Coleman from Clonard Ian was a previous county winner in the lsquoBest Idearsquo category and was the sole Wexford representative at the 2014 National Finals In the year since Ian has progressed his idea and his website wwwlifebitesie went live Finally the lsquoBest Established Businessrsquo trophy went to D OrsquoSullivan Consulting Engineers Diarmaid OrsquoSuilleabhainrsquos company has been in business since 2009 and although it operates out of Gorey it covers most of the eastern part of the country

CorkWexford

For further information please contact

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-requesteceuropaeu

wwweuirelandie wwwfacebookcomEUIreland wwwtwittercomeurireland

Supporting coastal communities Great Lighthouses of Ireland ProjectHook lighthouse in Wexford has been named as part of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland a euro25 million funded tourism initiative Featuring twelve lighthouses in stunning coastal locations Great Lighthouses of Ireland offer unforgettable experiences and create a deep appreciation of the role of lighthouses and in the maritime and seafaring story of the island of Ireland

Fishing IndustryIn Ireland there are 11000 people employed in the seafood industry which includes almost 5000 fishermen over 1700 fish farmers and almost 3000 employed in fish processing Irelandrsquos largest export market is France followed by the UK Spain and Nigeria

Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme - FLAGSThis scheme provides grant aid towards the sustainable development of fishery dependent areas It is funded under the national Development Plan and Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund is designed specifically to promote the sustainable development and improve the quality of life in fisheries dependant areas In particular the funding provided through this scheme complements other EU funded programmes and forms part of an overall strategy aimed at supporting implementation of the objectives of the common fisheries policy while maintaining the economic and social prosperity of these areas In 2014 over euro533k was invested in 119 projects around the coast of Ireland Wexford along with Waterford and Wicklow is part of the South East FLAG area Public groups community groups and organisations as well as private individuals all qualify for project funding The Strategy has highlighted some key areas projects that increase maritime tourism projects that demonstrate responsible harvest practice with market premium support for artisan food production projects that stimulate interest in seafood (festivals and educational projects) maritime heritage projects and tourism projects

The new Seafood Development Operation Programme will be published in 2016 and Ireland has secured euro148 million EU funding for this

Fostering Employment Education amp TrainingThe European Social Fund (ESF) stimulates the provision of employment and training opportunities emphasising sustainable and quality employment (especially youth) Poverty discrimination and social exclusion are also tackled

Since Ireland joined the EU many agencies and State bodies have received almost euro65 billion in investment from the ESF including euro241 million in 2014 In Wexford the EU has co-funded projects and programmes dealing with the youth sector early school leavers minority groups adult literacy upskilling and support for long-term unemployed

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education training youth and sport for the years 2014 to 2020 It provides funding and support for organisations to operate projects which encourage European exchange co-operation and learning Funding of almost euro170 million has been allocated to Ireland Over 77 of this will be allocated to education and training with a further 10 focussing on youth