National Development Plan Contributes to Social & Economic Progress in Laois

 Major improvements in the country’s education and training systems, social housing, childcare, roads and public transport, environmental protection, business innovation, rural development and broadband provision have been achieved under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

The Plan involves overall investment of €57 billion, making it the largest and most ambitious investment programme in the history of the State. Most (90%) of this money came from domestic sources, mainly the taxpayer, and the remainder came from the EU Structural Funds.

During 2006 – the final year of the seven year plan – over €9 billion was invested nationally. January sees the launch of a successor National Development Plan of greater scope and ambition which will cover the next seven years, 2007-2013.

In Co. Laois funding was invested in a whole range of vital social and economic programmes and initiatives.

Over €665,000 for the first nine months of 2006 was allocated to childcare services in the county. Projects which have benefited under the Plan include Portarlington Childcare Committee Ltd. (Na Páistí), Community Centre, Portarlington;  Jan’s Nursery, Portlaoise; The Village Creche, Ballyroan and Graiguecullen Parish Childcare Service.

The NDP has increased the number of childcare facilities and places through capital grants and funding for approved community-based childcare projects, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. Contributions have also been made to the salary costs of qualified childcare workers and childcare training and education.

The capital allocation for health nationally in 2006 was €595 million with €574 million allocated to Department of Health projects and the balance for HSE projects.  Total capital expenditure from 2000 to June 2006 was €2.8 billion for the country. In Laois, construction work continued on a dementia unit at St. Vincent’s Mountmellick, and on Midoc facilities at Portlaoise.

Funding of over €21.4 million was allocated for social housing projects in Laois for the first six months of 2006.  Social and affordable housing schemes including Mountmellick, Abbeyleix, Portarlington, Camross, The Swan and voluntary housing schemes in Mountrath and Portlaoise were among those to receive NDP support.

A top class road network, serving the entire country, plays a crucial role in contributing to Irish business and industrial competitiveness. Between 2000 and 2006, many roads in the county benefited from the NDP.

Over €43.8 million was invested in non-national roads in Laois between 2000 and 2005 and the allocation for 2006 was over €10.6 million.

Significant improvements have been made to national roads in Laois this year with an investment of over €36 million benefiting projects including the Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown road and the Durrow to Abbeyleix road. Traffic calming measures were provided for Mountrath, Ballylynan and the Stradbally Road in Portlaoise.

The NDP contributes towards the costs of quality education services provided by the Co. Laois VEC. There is a variety of programmes to assist people returning to education in the county, including  the National Adult Literacy Strategy programmes, Back To Education Initiative (BTEI) part-time options, Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training Centres, Further Education Support Services, PLCs (Post Leaving Certificate Courses), the School Completion Initiative and the Third Level Access Programme.

Many FÁS programmes are co-financed under the NDP by the European Social Fund (ESF). Hundreds of local people are employed thanks to a wide range of training courses and programmes including the Action Programme for Unemployed, Apprenticeships, Vocational Training and Pathways to Employment for People with Disabilities, Traineeships, In-Company Training (FÁS), Social Economy Programme and Social Economy – Local Social Capital.

The NDP funded Rural Transport Initiative (RTI) has made a valuable contribution to the quality of life of those in rural areas in the county. These community-based, flexible, door-to door services including Laois TRIP and Laois Rural Regeneration, provide access to shopping, health, education, day-care and social activities. The Rural Transport Initiative will be expanded to all rural areas nationwide from 2007.

Industry and jobs have been created in the county through the support of the NDP funded Laois County Enterprise Board. The allocation for the Board in 2006 was over €419,000 and companies supported include Teamwoodcraft, Ballybrittas; Natural Therapy Centre, Abbeyleix; Airshots, Mountrath and The Manor Collection, Portlaoise.

During 2006 the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme continued to fund two local Partnerships in County Laois - Mountmellick Development Association and Portlaoise Community Action Project (PCAP). Both organisations focus their work on the most marginalised communities in the county. They promote social inclusion through actions focused on: job creation, placement and training; improving the life chances of young people through participation in education; and community development activity aimed at building the capacity of disadvantaged communities to take a lead role in the process of change in their own communities.

A notable initiative in 2006 saw Portlaoise Community Action Project identify developmental youth work opportunities for disadvantaged youths, through consultations with pre-school, after school and other youth projects locally.

Waste management has been improved in the county in recent years, with the provision of a civic amenity site and green waste composting facilities at Kyletalesha Landfill Site and “bring bank” facilities throughout the county.

Rural water schemes have also advanced in the county since the commencement of the NDP. Examples include the Portlaoise Water Supply Emergency Works, Portarlington Water Supply Emergency Works, Stradbally Sewerage Improvement and Ballyroan Sewerage. The allocation for the country for water schemes under the plan in 2006 was over €85.6 million.

County and Group Broadband Schemes (CGBS), which promote the rollout of broadband access are also a beneficiary of the NDP funds. Broadband in Portlaoise is benefiting from investment which will provide cheap, always-on access to the Internet which is vital for business and invaluable for education, health and research bodies.

The local LEADER+ programme, Laois LEADER Rural Development Co., is targeted at promoting rural development through improving the economic environment to create job opportunities and through training and capacity building.

Overview
A spokesperson for the NDP said: “The National Development Plan is building a successful economy, promoting greater social equality and helping deliver more balanced regional development across the country. Very major improvements to our social services and economic infrastructure have been achieved over the past seven years.

“These achievements will be consolidated and further built upon in the successor NDP 2007-2013 being launched in January”.

-Ends-

For further information:
Clare Manning/Paula Eager, MRPA Kinman Communications
Tel: 01-6788 330

Note to Editor
The figures given in this release are provisional expenditure figures and grant aid approved to December.  The final end of year figures (actual expenditure & grant aid approved) will be available early in 2007 from the relevant Government Departments.