Carlow has won its campaign for independence in regard to funding for rural development.
The county is to have its own Leader programme for the first time following the announcement on Monday of the groups to receive funding for the next five years.
Carlow's bid for an independent scheme, backed by the county council and local business interests, was based on a perception that it had not received a proportionate share of previous Leader funding. This was denied by Barrow/Nore-Suir (BNS) Development, the group which has administered Leader funding to date in Kilkenny, Carlow and south-east Tipperary.
The EU-backed scheme is designed to promote a "bottom up" approach to development, in which rural communities make their own decisions about projects to be funded.
The previous Leader programme is being succeeded by two new schemes, Leader+, targeted at innovative rural development projects, particularly benefiting women and young people; and a Government backed National Rural Development Programme.
Many groups had applied for funding under both schemes, but the EU recently decreed that areas could qualify only for one or the other. BNS, which will now administer funding in Kilkenny and Tipperary only, has been allocated £4,037,841 under Leader+, while the new Carlow group is to get £1,150,631 under the rural development programme.
This is less than what the Carlow group sought, but it did not dampen satisfaction that the main objective, an independent Leader programme, had been achieved.
Carlow is the only start-up group among the 38 to be granted funding this week. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for rural development, Mr Eamon O Cuiv.
The county manager, Mr Tom Dowling, said "no stone was left unturned" in promoting the idea that Carlow should have its own Leader programme. There was an excellent spirit of co-operation among development groups, State agencies, the social partners, the community and voluntary sector and local authorities in the county, and this had played a key role in ensuring the success of the Leader application.
A representative of BNS, which had opposed the Carlow breakaway, could not be contacted for comment.
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Readers who wish to contact Chris Dooley can leave messages by dialling 01-6707711, extension 6298. e-mail address: cdooley@irish-times.ie