Beggs leads visits to RDP-funded projects in the Larne borough

The Manager of the N.E. Region of the Rural Development Programme Andrew McAlister; L.A.G. Director William Cross; L.A.G. Director Edwin Crawford, L.A.G.and the Chairman of the North East Region Rural Development Programme Alderman Roy Beggs with Rosalind Booth of Gleno Veterinary Centre. INLT 09-327-PR

One such project is run by Gleno vet Rosalind Booth, who has refurbished her existing premises for the purpose of adding a training suite. Rosalind offers training places to students and school leavers who wish to gain a place at Greenmount College on the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing course. The new premises feature a large room with an examination table, operating table and surgical lighting. The applicant and one other vet in the practice are approved assessors and are eligible to train students in all aspects of the work required.

Rosalind was awarded a grant of over £17,000 from NERRDP to assist with the enhancements. She has also been recently awarded a further grant of nearly £4,500 to improve communication and IT systems.

The NERRDP is now practically at full commitment, with over £11 million awarded to farmers, businesses, community groups and local councils in the North East area. Nearly £4.5 million of this is already been spent in the area.

Over the six years of the programme it will result in about a £22 million investment in the rural areas of the North East.

In the Larne area alone, 44 letters of offer have been issued to projects worth well over £1.5 million, with a spend to date of £550,000. These projects include engineering businesses, festivals, livery, renewables, village renewal, community facilities, heritage trails and more.

NER continues to work with clients in the Larne area and hopefully will be able to offer a further series of grants in mid-2013.

NER’s funding comes from the European Union and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and is being distributed as part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-13. NER is one of seven clusters delivering the programme across Northern Ireland.

For further information, contact  Malachy at the Ecos Centre, Kernohan’s Lane, Ballymena, BT43 7QA. Ring 028 25638263 or e-mail [email protected]