The EU - Supporting Your Local CommunityIreland has been a net beneficiary from the EU Budget since accession in 1973. By the beginning of 2015, Ireland received over €72.5 billion. However, this does not include payments made directly to beneficiaries, such as research receipts.

The majority of Irish funding from the EU has come through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), providing direct income and market support to the agricultural sector. In 2015, Structural Funds provided €150m and the European Social Funds contributed over €24m towards education and training, social inclusion and supports for vulnerable sectors of Irish society.

For the 2014-2020 Programme, the majority of Irish funding will continue to come through CAP and Ireland can also still expect to receive significant receipts under structural fund spending. As in recent years, structural funding will continue to focus

on areas such as research, technology and innovation supporting SMEs, ICT, energy efficiency and education, training and labour activation measures. Additional funding opportunities will arise under the Horizon 2020, Erasmus, Connecting Europe and Cosme EU level programmes which cover research, education, infrastructure networks and SME competitiveness and a number of other smaller programmes.

With this support from Europe, Ireland is continuing to develop a clean, innovative and highly skilled economy, providing world-class leadership and competitiveness in areas such as IT, Research and Technology. Furthermore, Irish farmers are producing high-quality products for world markets, with a reputation for excellence.

This information leaflet provides an insight into some of the ways that the EU has recently supported County Kerry.

Continued on next page...Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT)

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the laboratory to the market.

Ireland has been awarded a total of €273.3m for 622 participations and 472 projects. Here are some examples of how organisations in Kerry have been benefiting:

CropStrengthen €1.27m projectBioAtlanis Ltd, based in Tralee, is one of three partners in this project that is looking at developing non-GMO (genetically modified organism) technologies for improving crop growth. CropStrengthen is providing advanced systems biology training for five young researchers, who will develop novel methods for increasing crop strength

and resistance to stress by using alternative genetic and genomic, non-GMO, technologies.

This approach will meet the growing EU push towards the provision of secure, sustainable and safe means of food production.

€4.5m TRADEIT projectThe Institue of Technology in Tralee (ITT) is co-ordinating the TRADEIT project, which has developed a European network of bakery, dairy and meat-producing SMEs, food networks, associations, researchers and technology providers. The project aims to support traditional food producers, by sharing new knowledge, technologies and best practice on product, process and operational innovations.

At the Dingle Food Festival in 2016, over 20 of the network’s members presented their produce at the EuroFoodVision tent, while the final TRADEIT Technology Transfer Event, which was held in Tralee in October 2016, introduced new food safety technologies to SMEs.

The project’s online publication, Taste of Science, keeps food producers abreast of the latest research and business information.

Traditional foods are an important part of many local economies and a vital part of local heritage. But in the tough world of the food business, SME producers need up-to-date business practices and technology to stay competitive. Consumers are increasingly aware of the value of food from high-quality sources, and the benefits of purchasing locally. This has resulted in a growing artisan and local food sector.

While a food producer knows how to make authentic high quality traditional food, this is not always matched with the know-how to make the most of business opportunities. The project’s 19 partners who are from marketing, industry and academia and other businesses are sharing their expertise to help these businesses thrive.

Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT)ITT is involved in a number of EU projects working in diverse areas. Here are some examples:

ImaR (The Intelligent Mechatronics & RFID) Technology Gateway at IT Tralee, in collaboration with two Irish companies have secured just under €.5m in research funding for two projects.

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Kostal Ireland, employing in excess of 800 people, in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick and in Mallow, County Cork. The company manufactures automotive electronic systems and a range of technologies for end users.

While completing an Innovation feasibility conducted by IMaR researchers for Kostal, a need for the semi-automation of complex tasks within the production line was recognised. The proposed project has secured funding for the research and development of an innovative flexible robotic system, capable of integrating into the current manufacturing process of an automotive manufacturing plant, such as Kostal Ireland.

Industry partner Astellas Ireland Co. Ltd, provides 324 highly skilled jobs in its facility in Killorglin, County Kerry. Established in 1990 to manufacture, package and supply a range of treatments globally, Astellas Ireland is committed to R&D, investing one fifth of its annual sales to innovation.

This Killorglin operation, in partnership with IMaR, has secured funding to implement an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) based waste management system incorporating (Radio Frequency Identification) RFID to facilitate environmental monitoring and the consolidation of different pharmaceutical waste.

IMaR, The Intelligent Mechatronics & RFID Technology Gateway at IT Tralee, in collaboration with Kostal Ireland

Pictured Frank Hayes of Kerry Group looks over the Denny site map with Michael Scannell KCC and Cllr Terry O’Brien Mayor of Tralee

The hub town of Tralee in County Kerry has been awarded €1.5m for the development of a central site that formerly housed the Denny Factory. Following the demolition of the derelict buildings, the plan is to allocate nearly a third of the site as a public park and for the adjoining streets to be upgraded to enhance the linkages to the rest of the town centre.

Urban Development

New EU developments aim to support entrepreneurship and innovation among SMEs to drive new firm creation, expansion and employment and to help with the need to overcome a range of operational barriers.

Kerry has one Local Enterprise Office (LEO) delivering the Entrepreneurship in Micro-enterprise scheme based in Tralee. Kerry LEO supplies business information and advice clinics, training and mentoring, financial supports and networking opportunities as well as links to the Enterprise Europe Network.

Kerry LEO also took part in the Cork Kerry Food Forum 2016, which showcased over 70 food producers from the two counties. The LEO also works with Kerry County Council on supplying businesses with a focal point for their business requirements. The promotion of the county as a point of tourism and

business is a key function for the council. For women in business, the LEO runs a Regional Women in Business Network.

Student Enterprise Kerry LEO ran the Student Enterprise Awards for schools in Kerry and the winners of the Senior Category were RipBar from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion. Students involved include Conor McGrath, Lorna O’ Leary, Tara O’Shea and Niamh Stack.

The winner of the Intermediate Category was the Irish Codaithe Competition from Killorglin Community College. The team consisted of Timothy McGrath, Sarah O’Shea and Rebecca Coffey.

Junior level winners were a group from the Presentation Secondary School,

Castleisland. The group consisted of Grace Daly, Siobhan Brosnan, Lauren Butler and Cáit O’ Mahony.

St Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney won the most Enterprising School Award for its work in fostering entrepreneurship within the school and was presented with the Cantillon Perpetual Cup.

The winner of the Most Enterprising Student Award was Brian Lonergan from Castleisland Community College. His business Heart Of Gold Eggs specialises in free-range eggs.

Enterprise AwardsThe winner of the County Enterprise Awards 2016 was FM Marine Services Ltd, from Valentia Island, a boat manufacturing company owned by Fionán and Mary Murphy. This business exports the Cygnus Boat throughout Europe and had previously received €220k funding through the Rural Development Programme to construct new premises.

More than €1.6 billion was paid to over 130,000 Irish farmers last year under a variety of EU agriculture schemes, Currently, Irish farmers receive EU funding of €1.2 billion every year through CAP funding and since 2007, Irish farmers have received over €12 billion. Further support of €2.3 billion was received through rural development programmes, with a further €2.2 billion secured for the 2014-2020 period. In recent years, these programmes accounted for around 90% of our total EU public sector receipts. In 2015, total CAP payments of over €91.3m were distributed to

8,062 recipients in Kerry, giving an average payment of €11,335 which is the 16th largest in the country. Kerry farmers received almost €58m in Single Payments alone.

Supporting Dairy FarmersKerry had the second highest uptake of an EU scheme aiming to combat volatility in the dairy market.

711 farmers in the county applied for the EU Milk Reduction Supply Scheme. This is second to Cork where 1,153 farmers applied.

The scheme, worth €150m, is available to farmers across the EU and offers compensation to those who pledge to cut

back on the amount of milk they supply to the market between October and December each year. In total 4,447 farmers in Ireland applied for the scheme.

Rural areas also receive other supports including the Rural Development Programme as well as through investment in towns and villages and through structural programmes. The Leader Initiative continues to support communities, tourism, local businesses as well as towns and villages. Kerry Development Partnerships were awarded €2.3m in funding in 2015 and Kerry has been allocated over €10.2m for the 2014-2020 programme.

Milk Reduction Supply Scheme assists dairy farmers

Local farmers in South Kerry recently started to participate in a €5m project to restore an endangered species of marine life. The KerryLIFE project was launched to help restore populations of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel.

Essential, preparatory work is now complete and around 50 farmers in the Glencar and Blackwater areas are taking part in the scheme and are getting paid for their efforts to conserve the species. The project will run until 2019.

Supporting SMEs

Helping Rural Development

EU Life Programme

For further information please contact:

The European Commission Representation in IrelandTel: 01 6341111 Email eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu

www.euireland.ie www.facebook.com/EUIreland www.twitter.com/eurireland

A strong emphasis is being put on supporting employment and social inclusion for youth. The EU Youth Programme is strongly focused on helping the unemployed to return to the labour market, with particular attention to youth and long-term unemployed people.

Kerry has one Education and Training Board (ETB) based in Tralee. The training board supports 5 Youthreach centres in the Kerry region and these are in Killarney, Kilorglin, Listowel, Tralee and Transforum Alley in Tralee.

Kerry Music Education Partnership (KMEP) is a performance music education partnership initiative for County Kerry. It has a number of partners including Kerry ETB Kerry County Council, the Institute of Technology, Tralee, Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, Ealain na Gaeltachta as well as local music educators and youth organisations.

KMEP runs the Take Note Music Project, which aims to broaden access to affordable, multi-genre music performance and education programmes for children and young people. It includes vocal and instrumental lessons, Bandidz (creative music production) and music technology lessons.

Eramsus+ provides funding to Irish educational organisations to carry out a wide range of projects involving staff, learners and the wider educational community. Recent figures show that there were 4,714 participants from Ireland, which was a 9% increase since last year.

Kerry One World Centre (KOWC), based in Tralee, is involved in a EU funded Erasmus project, NETPLANTS, that links Ireland with France, UK, Spain and Romania. This is part of a network which aims to promote food resilience and build peoples capacity to grow quality food, cook with it, forage for wild foods and create natural art and cosmetics with plants. The project will run until 2017.

KOWC is also involved in a recycling project aimed at adult education institutions. COLLECT RECYCLE MANUFACTURE (CRM) is a multi-partner project that will address paper use and recycling.

Healthy EatingThe Food Dudes Initiative was designed to enable children to enjoy eating healthy diets, and to create a healthy eating culture within schools. In 2015, 110 schools in Kerry participated in this healthy initiative.

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) aims to support a long- term sustainable seafood industry and to maximise the contribution of the seafood industry to the economies of coastal regions.

Ireland’s Fishing Industry generates about €891m in trade annually, with exports of €554m. Recently, funding of €12m was announced for the 7 newly established Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGS). This initial funding has supported a wide range of initiatives, targeting job creation, social inclusion, tourism, community regeneration and market development around our coastline. Kerry is part of the Southwest FLAG covering the area West of Lauragh to Foynes, which received €1.53m funding.

Kerry Music Education Partnership

Coastal

Regions Education & Youth