Minister Jerry Buttimer Visits IRD Duhallow

IRD Duhallow was delighted to welcome Minister Jerry Buttimer Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development to IRD Duhallow last Friday in advance of him travelling to Boherbue to officially launch the newly developed ORIS funded ‘Bounds Ditch Loop walk.

Accompanied by Deputy John Paul O’Shea, Cllr Trish Murphy and Cllr Jack White the Minister met with board members and staff and to see firsthand the work of IRD Duhallow and to visit some of the social enterprises that are supported by the Community Services Programme which is part of the Ministers remit.

He firstly visited Duhallow Community Food Services where he met management and staff to hear about both the meals on wheels and hot school lunch programme that has grown substantially over the years. The much needed and proposed expansion of the facility was outlined in detail to him.

From here he visited Duhallow Furniture Revamp where he met participants and staff who work directly on restoring the donated furniture and viewed the showrooms and workshop on site.

Continuing on to Duhallow Community Laundry he learnt about the service and why it started first day and how its grown to meet demand locally.

The Minister and other officials then met with Supervisor Don Muphy and RSS and TUS participants where he viewed the restoration work they completed on the outbuildings in the James O’Keeffe Institute. Such programmes have helped preserve the historical built heritage of such a significant heritage site in Duhallow.

The Minister also met with Knocknagree Development Group who earlier that week recieved the first LEADER grant payment of €33,599.23 for the Community Centre

The visiting party then sat down with board and management to discuss the pressing rural development issues affecting both Duhallow and rural Ireland in general. The significant cuts to both LEADER and SICAP budgets were highlighted to the Minister together with the need to ensure the preservation of the 7 specificities of LEADER.

Minister Jerry Buttimer Pictured CE Scheme participant Joanie Sheehan who works in Duhallow Community Laundry as he took a tour of the IRD Duhallow facilities.

Minister Jerry Buttimer trying his hand at ironing in the Community Laundry Services

DCFS Manager Linda O’Connor and her Staff were delighted to welcome Minister Jerry Buttimer and his colleagues to DCFS where they presented him with a hamper of produce

Minister Jerry Buttimer meets with Ukranian staff Svitlana Knyzhenko, Maryna Pavlova and Ella Nikesha also pictured is IRD Duhallow Chairman Michael Twohig

Minister Jerry Buttimer and Deputy John Paul O’Shea Pictured with IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh and Jessica Baron showing off the refurbished furniture inside the REVAMP Showroom

Minister Jerry Buttimer Pictured with Revamp Staff Jessica Baron, Niall Bourke, Triona McSweeny and Therese Walsh at the Revamp showroom

The Minister was delighted to meet Knocknagree Development Group who were the first recipients of LEADER funding in the current programme in Duhallow

Minister Jerry Buttimer, Deputy John Paul O’Shea and Councillor Trish Murphy pictured with the IRD Duhallow Staff and Board at the James O’Keeffe Institute

IRD Duhallow Board Members and Staff Mary Wallace, Michael Twohig, Maura Walsh and Triona Dennehy pictured with Minister Jerry Buttimer, Councillor Trish Murphy and Deputy John Paul O’Shea in the restored courtyard of the James O’Keeffe Institute

Don Murphy Tús Supervisor discusses with Minister Jerry Buttimer the renovation work undertaken by both RSS and Tús participants on the James O’Keeffe Institute