O’Donnell named as LEADER chair

THE new incoming chairman of Comhar Leader na hEireann (CLE), the national network for the 36 Irish LEADER companies, is Tom O’Donnell.

He is chief executive of North Kerry LEADER Group, Tuatha Chiarrai Teo, and believes CLE and its members are facing challenging times.

Describing the LEADER programme as the key player in rural development, he said: “We are entering an extremely important twelve months for all our members.

“The new EU Rural Development Programme for the period 2007 to 2014 is coming down the line and we have to be ready to run with whatever comes from Brussels,” he said.

On the domestic front, Mr O’Donnell said the workload of LEADER companies is growing rapidly.

The CLÁR programme, in which LEADER plays a vital role, is being expanded to include five new counties with a budget increasing to €23 million.

He said the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) administered by LEADER has proved a huge success. It provides part-time employment for 2,300 smallholders countrywide in a wide range of local community projects.

Along with Mr O’Donnell the new CLE Executive includes incoming vice-chairman Michael Ludlow, Meath, secretary Maura Walsh, IRD Duhallow and treasurer Martina Earley, Arigna.

Mr O’Donnell appealed to the “LEADER family” to support the Executive over the next year in its negotiations with the authorities.