Around €40 million European Union funding is being made available over the next year to create jobs across rural parts of Ireland.

Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey has revealed the cash boost is just the initial allocation set to be up for grabs from the Rural Development Programme in 2011.

The minister called on Local Action Groups across Ireland to “focus their energies on supporting projects that will bring jobs and real and sustainable growth” to local communities.

He said:

“The availability of this initial €40m allocation for 2011 will allow Local Action Groups to commit to a range of new projects that will further develop and enhance the social and economic opportunities of rural areas.”

Minister Carey also announced plans to meet with representatives from a number of LAGs to discuss how best to allocate the funding and “address any difficulties that participants have encountered with the implementation of the programme to date”.

Around €425 million will be made available over the entire Rural Development Programme 2007-13.

Source: Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, 13/06/2010