Manager’s Report The past year has been exceptional in many ways for the company, its directors, management and staff. Performance at all levels shows results that have tested the courage, flexibility, responsiveness and professionalism of our entire team. We repurposed, redeployed, reinvented and responded with pace and urgency to the Covid 19 challenge because we have engaged an agile, professional team of workers at all levels, that I am honoured to lead.
and grow their businesses in the face of the economic challenges ahead.
It has been a notable year for achievement with the successful completion of a number of key programmes and initiatives. Our LIFE Raptor programme, commenced in 2014 and shone a light on the Hen Harrier and its importance as an indicator species of the health or otherwise of our environment and biodiversity. With the buy in and support of local land owners, farmers and Coillte we developed innovative responses that will support the survival of the Raptors as well as the survival of the farmers who are custodians of that unique landscape. We are delighted that work will continue with the farmers involved in our LIFE programme who are now signed up to the very successful national Hen Harriers EIP. I want to thank Eileen Linehan, Assistant CEO for managing the project and our project scientist Dr. Allan Mee and Dr. Darren Reidy along with Tom Siekaniec, Nuala Riordan and the RSS and Tus teams that carried out the work on the ground. My thanks also to Coillte for facilitating the creation of a feeding corridor along the Blackwater and to National Parks and Wildlife Service who partnered us in the monitoring and tagging of the chicks.
New programmes have also commenced and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme has supported the enhancement of three walks this year. We are delighted to have the opportunity to implement ORIS in both Cork and Kerry in the coming year.
Our community employment programme has expanded to serve the western Duhallow region. We welcome this opportunity and look forward to working with the Department Employment and Social Protection (DEASP) on this and our RSS and Tus programmes to assist unemployed people regain employment quickly.
Another successful programme completed was PEIL, which focused on upskilling of women to re-enter the workforce. Unfortunately, we do not have a successor programme for this to date. I want to thank Mary Creedon and Katie Crowley who worked on its successful delivery and wish them well in their future careers.
One of the highlights of the year for me was being invited to speak at the tribute seminar for Dr. Rory O’Donnell who retired from NASC. The International and National speakers and attendees with a wide range of senior officials, past and present from Government Departments, Universities, Colleges, NGO’s was a tribute to the greatness of the man. It was a privilege to be part of the day. We were also delighted to be asked to contribute to the hugely successful Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) two-day webinar on ‘Water Quality’ which saw over 2000 delegates register and attend. Our pioneering EU LIFE work on the Allow Catchment formed the basis for our current European Innovation Programme (EIP) for agriculture and the positive impact that it has on the 80 farmers signed up to our project to deliver Blue Dot water quality in the catchment.
I want to thank our Board and Chairperson Breeda Moynihan Cronin in particular, for their dynamic and courageous leadership and their support for me personally and all staff in the organisation. Breeda’s voluntary contribution to the development of this region and the improvement of the Quality of Life for everyone is immeasurable and deserves recognition. Broadening your Horizons has seen 10 young unemployed people She was one of the first to speak out with courage, in support of our supported to further their education and training and upskill to be better elderly population. prepared to take up employment opportunities. Our thanks to Olivia Quinn who worked on the programme and I wish her well in her future This year has seen three of our staff go out on maternity leave, carer. congratulations to Triona Dennehy, Louise Bourke and Stephanie Our Local Training Initiative produced outstanding results with 9 students achieving QQI Level 5 qualification. We are looking forward to commencing the next intake of learners in September and are working with Cork ETB in order to have all the necessary health and safety covid measures in place. Our Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration project in Banteer is set for completion by year end with the astro turf pitch already commissioned and work on the commencement of the spectator stand, dressing rooms, café and exhibition area eminent. LEADER has come on board to complete the carpark facilities and ensure a renewable energy source is installed in the facility. Our Dormant Accounts Carers support programme has been successfully completed, despite the challenge of Covid toward the end. Congratulations to Conor Judge who leaves us to take up a scholarship in Oxford University where he will pursue a PhD, we wish him every success. LEADER 2014-2020 ends in December and with over 85% of our budget already committed to projects, we are well on target, to have all committed by the December deadline with a healthy pipeline of projects. We are reassured by the Programme for Government including a commitment to provide funding for an interim programme to bridge the gap in EU programmes.
Moynihan on the birth of their babies. Last year saw IRD Duhallow formally recognise the Long Service of several of our staff. A team of remarkable people were recognised for 25, 20, 15 and 10 years of service across all areas of the company. I want to acknowledge in particular, the contribution of Eileen Linehan our Assistant CEO to the success of the company. I value her professionalism, leadership qualities, commitment, flexibility and amazing work ethic. She edited and produced this progress report on top of an already heavy workload, while about to go on Maternity Leave. My thanks also Triona Dennehy and Helen O’ Sullivan of our Management Team for their dedication and hard work and the leadership they provide to their teams. A special word of thanks to Helen for finalising all the draft pages of this Progress Report. A culture of ongoing innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of our work, putting new demands on existing staff and creating opportunities to introduce new skills to the company, allows IRD Duhallow stay relevant to our communities. Board, Management and staff, in unison have strengthened the position of IRD Duhallow as being respected and trusted by our Communities, Businesses, Government Agencies and Departments. We pride ourselves on our work ethic and are well recognised as having a high performance culture.
We were delighted with the rapid and agile response of Skillnet Ireland Maura Walsh led by CEO Paul Healy and his team in supporting us to address head on CEO IRD DUHALLOW and facilitate our business network of over 1,000 members to adopt and upskill their work forces, in order to overcome the Covid threat and sustain
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