DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR IRISH LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES

Why change something when it is working just fine. Secad existence has supported developing businesses throughout good and recession times with great success in terms of employement and local development. What's happening with SECAd right now is simply crazy and in direct contracting ion with the community highest good.

It was broken, it was fixed, and now you want to break it again !

To all Politicians - There are local elections coming up in may, Your attitude to this decides if you get my vote or not.

I think SECAD is an extremely valuable program for all small businesses in the area. If it were disbanded, I believe it would be a false economy for the government. It provides very necessary services to businesses in the area, services that will not be available without it, or will only be available at a cost too high for smaller businesses to afford. Losing SECAD could cause some businesses to close due to lack of support, and others to never open for the same reasons.

I do hope SECAD continues to be there supporting our communities in the future.

Give a person a fish and feed them for a day TEACH the person to fish and feed them for their lifetime. We need local ongoing support to help local communities keep up with the changes ahead and to be a step in front at all times, we need to teach communites how to use new techology to be as efficient and effective so they can be and as competitive as possible but at the same time we need to show how important it is to also identify an artisan market rather then an industrial one and keep an holistic view on the future. The help of Local Development Companies in parthnership is critical to the success of keeping Ireland on a sound economical footing and retain enough self - sufficiency that it is not heavily reliant on other countries to feed and clothe its people. We cannot be a people that are "jacks of all trades but masters of none" we need to develop some masters by giving them the information and knowledge they need to create buisness that will benefit the country. Local Development Companies are so important for the Small and Medium enterprise groups and the indidviduals that strive so hard to make this country work.

Please help support Irish Businesses by not closing our local Development Company SECAD. PLEASE!!!!!

I found the SYOB course really motivating and helpful in structuring my plan to get started. Also Secads follow up once the course was finished provided me with extra support and advise.

There is plenty of opportunity for cooperation between local authorities and local development compnbaies. Each has its role in assisting local people, small businesses and communities to reach their potential. However the current proposals on the 'alignment'- which seek to place an extra layer of bureacracy in the support system- patently do not serve those groups well and will be neither efficient or effective. the Minister and the government need to reconsider their approach.

Without the LDCs we would not have worked with over 400 communities to survey over 400 historic graveyards. They are innovative and practical and always put their communities first.

I feel that it would be a retrograde step if the LDCs were to be privatised. As they are currently constituted, they play a pivotal role in supporting initiatives to promote social inclusion while also promoting effective interagency partnership which encourages effective uses of resources and expertise.

Secad has proven that it can deliver in local communities .Cork Co Council can not be allowed to miss manage this important area of the community as it mismanages our road systems

great meeting tonight to save local development

I'm signing this petition because we need to keep local expertise working for local development.

Vital for rural communities that Partnerships have a full range of programmes to deliver

ill thought out proposal by govt.if it comes to pass it will further decimate rural ireland

Ballyhoura Rural Services provides a service to the elderly and people in isolation which is invaluable to their well being., It helps family members in a way which allows independence for the elderly and prevents them and the Government the expense and stress of going into a nursing home. The employees eventhought are paid the minimum wage and have to use their own transport without receiving expences continue to work beyond the call of duty. A relationship of trust and understanding is built between the community support worker and the client which is paramount today in the present climate where Garda Stations are closing down, bus service is non existant in most rural areas which leaves the vulnerable and elderly isolated. The services and care by Ballyhoura Rural Services is the best sevice provided to the elderly and those living in rural isolation for peace of mind and care

Local communities HAVE To be supported by local organisations!

Down with this sort of thing

Imperative that local development companies retain control of decisions related to delivering Leader programes and the related funding requirements