TANAISTE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF SOCIAL ECONOMY PROGRAMME

TANAISTE Mary Harney has announced the launch of the Social Economy Programme in the South East region with over IR£1.5 million already committed to projects in the area over a three-year period.

Announcing the grant approvals during her visit in Waterford, the Tánaiste expressed satisfaction at the progress to date in developing the programme and encouraged organisations in the community and voluntary sector to use the Programme to further develop community services.

She said: “A caring society and an enterprise economy go hand in hand, no more so than at local, community level where initiative and enterprise bind strong communities together.

“I believe strongly that our job in government is to clear the way for all forms of enterprise and initiative. This includes community and voluntary enterprise as well as business and individual enterprise.

“When we say we need an enterprise economy, we mean a diversity of enterprises, from large scale businesses delivering thousands of jobs, to micro-projects serving local communities. They all contribute to quality of life and our standards of living in Ireland. Everyone has a part to play in an enterprise economy and a caring society. The projects announced today clearly reflect the Government's goals to promote an enterprise economy and a caring society side by side.”

A further 13 projects are at an advanced stage of making their submissions. The Tánaiste highlighted the potential of the projects in the South East to develop sustainable, viable enterprises dedicated to providing essential services in the community for the benefit of the less well off in the community.

There are now 24 full project approvals and 225 grants for business plan development throughout the Republic of Ireland. (CL)