FARMERS are giving up on diversifying into consumer food ideas because of a freeze on LEADER funding.

FARMERS and rural development officials are becoming increasingly frustrated by a freeze on LEADER funding applications for food-related projects.

BRIGHT orange electric cars will soon be part of the Aran Islands’ landscape.

NO initiatives to tackle economic and social disadvantage will be paid for by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCEG) from its dormant account funds, the department confirmed yesterday.

I REFER to the letter by Brian Hopkins headlined ‘It’s time to terminate FÁS-type lifestyle’ (November 6) in which accusations were made that “Údarás na Gaeltachta was doing a FÁS with public funds... ” and which also contained allegations of ‘fraud’.

LOCAL action groups have been told they will lose their share of €425 million funding for rural development “if they are not able to step up to the plate” with valid projects.

Over 180 events were taking place all over the country today to celebrate National Trails Day 2010.

THE Gaeltacht will disappear within five years if proposed Government cutbacks of 80% are implemented, it was warned yesterday.

Unemployed people claiming the dole could be made to work in the community for their benefits, it emerged today.

THE investment programme for the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (note that the word rural has been dropped from the title) amounts to €463m over the seven years.

A TOP civil servant has been drafted in to take over the running of the Adoption Board following the sudden departure of the chief executive last month.

THE age-old rituals of an Irish teenage summer are being hit by the recession – as demand for Irish college courses has dropped by up to 40% across the country.

IT’S all about attitude and it’s never too late.

THERE is no diminution of commitment to rural communities by the Government – despite the term “rural” being dropped from the title of his Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, according to Minister Pat Carey.

CLARITY has been sought from the Government that it has not diluted rural and regional development in the Cabinet reshuffle.

A LEADING drugs body has expressed alarm at the Government’s decision to leave the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) without a junior minister to implement it.

THERE will be an “inevitable cost” in restructuring government departments and agencies as part of the Cabinet reshuffle, the Taoiseach admitted.

OUT with the old and in with the, er, old.

GREEN Party leader John Gormley has defended his decision to demand Fianna Fáil deliver him two junior ministerial posts in the reshuffle.

Former Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin insisted tonight that she was genuinely delighted with her shift to a rebranded Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolio as part of the Cabinet rejig.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has today moved from Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Education, pending the expected Dáil approval.