IDP staff will advise you on the development of your idea and also put you in contact with the necessary expertise you may require from other agencies. We also have a comprehensive knowledge of all the programmes and schemes available and will advise you on how to access these. IDP offers capital Grants from eligible projects which fulfil the criteria for the Rural Development Programme.

Eligible grants should have the following features:

• They should be innovative
• Generate economic activity.
• Identify a market for the product/service
• Should not result in displacement of existing jobs.

Whether your project is only at the idea stage or may have developed further, you can telephone and arrange to meet our Development Officers or for them to call out to you to discuss your proposed project.

Part of our job at IDP is to advise people on all other schemes and programmes currently available. We welcome any enquiries and if we cannot help we will put you in contact with the agency which may be better suited to your project.

No. You must apply under the relevant scheme. This is to ensure that all schemes are fully utilised and in the interest securing real added value under the Rural Development Programme as required by the European Commission.

No.  A project may not receive aid (co-funding) from the Rural Development Programme and other public grant schemes and programmes. In some cases where there is clearly an identifiable phase of a project, grant aid may be allowable; this should be discussed with a staff member initially.

MEASURES:

• Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities
• Support for Business Creation & Development
• Encouragement of Tourism Activities
• Basic Services for the Economy & Rural Population
• Village & Countryside Renewal & Development
• Conservation & Upgrading of the Rural Heritage
• Training & Information

RATES OF AID

• Capital Projects (Private) – 50%
• Capital Projects (Community) – 75%
• Analysis & Development (Private) – 75%
• Analysis & Development (Community) – 90%
• Training Courses – 100%

An eligible application is first evaluated by an Evaluation Committee, with a recommendation being forwarded to the Board for approval. If a project is approved by the board, you will receive a letter of offer and contract.

Provided all necessary information has been supplied, you will know in less than 12 weeks.

Grant payments may be made only on completion of the project (in exceptional circumstances, a phased payment may be made when the project is 50% complete), on submission of original paid invoices, receipts etc as per payment checklist which will be supplied by IDP, approval from relevant authorities as to quality of work and on inspection by IDP as to the projects satisfactory completion. The time limit is 12 months.

In certain circumstances Voluntary labour is acceptable as a source of private matching funding for community based projects to a limit of 50%. The donation of buildings, equipment or services free of charge or at a nominal cost as part of the project may be considered as private matching funding for community groups only. To do this, all work and the hours involved must be broken down in detail. This must be included with the application. Project meetings cannot be accepted as voluntary labour.

Project works may only commence after the project has been approved, the promoter has received the letter of offer and contract and IDP has received formal acceptance of this offer of grant aid.  If works commence prior to this stage the project (or clearly identified phase of project) will then be deemed ineligible and contract will be null and void.

Inishowen Development Partnership.
Pound Street Business Park
Carndonagh
Inishowen
Co. Donegal
Ireland
Telephone: 074 9373083  Fax: 074 9373084
Website: www.inishowen.ie  Email: info@inishowen.ie