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programme for 2021 and 2022 to cover the period until the next programme comes into effect in 20232030. Highlights in 2020 included securing funding for a number of exciting new community development projects, such as ‘Innovating Communities’ and ‘Smart Towns and Villages’. We continued our work to support the development of social enterprises throughout Donegal. We also continued work on the development of the International Appalachian Trail and I look forward to celebrating with you its launch in 2021. I am also looking forward to launching the Rethink-funded ‘Think Equality’ project along with our consortium partners, the Donegal Intercultural Platform and Donegal Travellers Project. In the ‘2019-2024 - Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities’ strategy, the Government commits to supporting community and voluntary organisations with appropriate funding models for the supports and services they deliver in partnership with government. This commitment is designed to create greater financial certainty for and sustainability of the sector, thereby improving its capacity and effectiveness, and ensuring the viability of community services. The 2020 Programme for Government provides for the implementation of this strategy and we hope to see it progressed as a matter of urgency. The new Programme for Government provides the potential for a new landscape for the future of local community-led development. It includes a wide range of strategies, such as the ‘Our Rural Future’ Strategy, a National Recreation Strategy, a Social Enterprise Strategy, a Volunteering Strategy, as well as commitments to end direct provision, introduce new social inclusion measures, all of which point to an ever-increasing role for Local Development Companies in service delivery. A particular focus for us going forward is on the climate agenda and supporting communities to consider the impact of their decision-making on the environment.
We await to see the full impact of COVID 19 on the economy and we will adapt our targeted wraparound services as the makeup of the live register post pandemic becomes clearer. While many of us have embraced the new world of Zoom to connect, for others the need to communicate digitally has created a further divide as a result of lack of accessibility to broadband and IT devices, or training in the use of the relevant software. The digital divide has highlighted the urgent need for a Digital Inclusion Fund. I wish to thank all the members of the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), in particular our colleagues in Inishowen Development Partnership with whom we collaborated on a number of projects. I also wish to thank the Donegal LCDC and Donegal County Council for their support, and in particular Liam Ward, Director of Services and Chairperson of Donegal Community Forum which was set up in response to the pandemic. Finally thank you to all Departmental agencies, academic institutions and fellow NGO members for all your efforts and courtesies in an extraordinarily difficult year. In 2021 we will be preparing our next strategic plan and look forward to engaging with you all to ensure we meet the needs of individuals and communities in Donegal. Sustainability is at the heart of all that we strive to do and with the support of our Board, led by Patsy McGonagle, and our team of more than 70 committed staff we will do everything we can to enhance the future of our communities. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Board of Directors and the staff of DLDC for all their support and tireless work throughout 2020. Best regards Padraic Fingleton, CEO
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