Extra cash to boost local trade with Eire (From Western Telegraph)

Extra cash to boost local trade with Eire

Pembrokeshires close relationship with Ireland has been rewarded a second time with a multi-million pound economy boosting grant.

With just 90 miles of sea separating the two regions, there is huge potential for economic and social co-operation.

It is not uncommon for job seekers from Pembrokeshire to commute across the Irish Sea where business is booming thanks to Objective One funding.

Now it is Pembrokeshires turn to stimulate its economy with Objective One cash.

The alliance between West Wales and Eastern Ireland has been recognised by the Welsh Assembly and the Irish Government with a £40 million sustainable development grant, announced this week.

It is the second time Pembrokeshire has been awarded a grant from the so-called INTERREG III programme.

The previous programme, approved in 1995, was weighted in Irelands favour with a £50 million-£10 million split.

This time around both regions will get an equal amount and the opportunities are exciting with grants of up to 75 per cent. The programme targets several key areas including jobs creation through economic development and tourism.

The pot of cash set aside for culture will support heritage, the arts and languages. There is also money dedicated to environmental projects. Pembrokeshire County Council sees it as an exciting opportunity for the county.

Together with other West Wales local authorities including Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, it is funding an INTERREG development officer to advise those who want to tap into the programme.

The woman who had that job during INTERREG II, Rosemary Davies, recalls how trade links were forged between Pembrokeshire In Business and Waterford In Business.

It generated a lot of business across the Irish Sea, it was a particularly good time for first time exporters, she says.

The Princes Trust linked up with a similar group in Ireland for a series of training courses for the unemployed. Trainees spent six weeks in Wales and six in Ireland and afterwards 80 of those found full-time jobs.

Richard Packman, managing director of the Pembrokeshire Business Initiative, says the programme will further strengthen these links.

This is a godsend to us, he says. I am particularly encouraged that applicants wont have to go through the same torturous process to get money out as they do with Objective One.