Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review: stage 2 - Ireland case study

8. Examples of Rural Community Led Local Development

8.1 Participative Community Based Socio-Economic Action Planning - the ADOPT Model

O’Hara and O’Shaughnessy (2015) have documented the innovative strategies used by the Ballyhoura Development CLG to animate and support Community Led Local Development through the integration of social inclusion and economic development objectives in a process of community engagement (Ballyhoura Development CLG, 2015). Community engagement is achieved by encouraging groups to become involved in mainstream activities such as tidy town projects, landscaping, and drama. This can begin with a simple initiative linked to the Tidy Towns (e.g., planting flower beds) which will be used to build relationships and trust and encourage wider civic engagement. Estate management training is a key strategy of social inclusion with a specific target on local authority estates in the larger towns within the Ballyhoura Region (Visit Ballyhoura, 2025).

The initial step in encouraging engagement is to start a specific project on an estate e.g., a clean-up evening. This brings estate residents together and the Ballyhoura Development CLG staff work with them to articulate common concerns/issues. Specific targeted training is provided in order to enhance the competence and confidence of the residents, and a formal working group will be encouraged to form. This working group will then be linked/introduced to relevant other local voluntary organisations and statutory agencies in order to encourage improved understanding and communications within each stakeholder. This process demonstrates one successful example of how Community Led Local Development is facilitated in a rural community setting.^[10] The ADOPT model can be described as a form of process innovation (O’Hara and O’Shaughnessy, 2015). Through its approach of facilitating an agreed articulation of needs and aspirations, encouragement of local support networks, and the promotion of a participative, collective community action-planning process Ballyhoura Development CLG contributes to changes in the dynamics of social relations, including power relations, new forms of civic involvement, participation, and democratisation.

8.2 Community Led Local Development Sustainable Rural Communities - The Farming for Blue Dot Catchments European Initiative Partnership

The Farming for blue dot catchments European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is a results based Agri-Environmental programme which rewards farmers for the protection, enhancement and restoration of waterbodies in the Allow River catchment, located in the Blackwater River Special Area of Conservation (EPA Catchments Unit, 2023). European Innovation Partnerships fund projects that facilitate collaboration between farmers, scientists, and other experts to support local practices that are both economically and environmentally sustainable (European Commission, no date). This EIP, which involves over ten local farmers, is managed by IRD Duhallow, a community-based integrated rural development company with long-established expertise in coordinating community environmental projects through the LEADER Programme. The local impact of the EIP is illustrated in Box 1.

Box 1: IRD Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP, 2019-2023

Aim

Protect or restore freshwater quality in Allow River catchment -100 farmers recruited (original target 85). Positive impact on river and adjacent lands via wide range of measures implemented to enhance water quality and biodiversity.

Blue Dot Catchments

Catchments with potential to represent highest standard of water quality; assigned objective to achieve high status under Water Quality Directive > 9% of Ireland’s waterbodies. Important for sensitive species, as act as Arks & economically beneficial due to activities: angling, tourism & recreation.

Project

Hybrid results-based agri-environment scheme, higher quality habitats maintained = higher payments (e.g. in-stream woody habitat, vegetated drains, wet grasslands etc.) PLUS ‘Additional Proposed Works’ capital actions to protect water quality and biodiversity (e.g. biodiversity ponds, farm roadway upgrades, solar powered pumps, tree planting etc.)

€650,000 Funding for: > over 130ha wet/species-rich grassland retained; > over 22ha of riparian woodland retained; >37 farm roads upgraded; >15 ponds installed; >138 water troughs installed; >39ha of multi-species swards trial; >over 19km of waterbodies fenced; >10 solar-powered pumps/fencers implemented; >20,000 trees planted; >222 nest boxes installed for barn owls, sand martins & dippers.

Results

4 river waterbodies improved in Water Framework Directive Status (3 from good to high, 1 from poor to moderate) = 81% of catchment areas rivers achieving their WFD status (57% at project start). At the project close across Ireland 53% of rivers achieved their WFD status.

Outputs

• Findings shared via far walks and talks for agricultural and environmental agencies in Ireland and beyond. Media coverage in Ecoeye and RTE Radio.
• Six-episode video series to highlight measure on demonstrator farms and importance of blue dot rivers for Duhallow.
• Booklet of measures published.
• Knowledge transfer event July 2023, sharing information on: bluedot rivers; locally specific catchment science; and rural health services available through IRD Duhallow’s North Cork Rural Community Health Scheme.
• Autumn Talk Series on: Sustainable beekeeping, Riparian buffers, Native Hedgerows, Opportunities for native woodlands on farms, Renewable energy on farms.
• Over 35 school visits to national and secondary schools in Duhallow, for the schools a calendar competition held to win a river walk and biodiversity action plan.
• Project Close Conference which brought together farmers, scientists, policymakers & researchers. Enthusiasm amongst project farmers to secure another project and build on successful foundation of this programme.

Source: Adapted from: https://issuu.com/irdduhallow1/docs/ird_duhallow_progress_jun_23_-_24_compressed pp 14-15