Over 100 jobs are likely to be created in some of Ireland's most disadvantaged areas after funding by the board of the International Fund for Ireland was this afternoon approved.
The Board has granted assistance to the value of over €2.5 million to projects which aim to promote the organisation's key objectives of social reconciliation and economic advance in the border region.
The International Fund for Ireland has spent well over €700 million on close to 5,000 separate projects since it was established in 1986.
Over €1.3 million has been allocated to development projects in Co Donegal which will lead directly to the creation of 65 jobs.
The Erne Enterprise Development Company is to receive €400,000 towards the construction of a new building at the IDA Industrial Estate in Ballyshannon, which will provide five units for new businesses to grow and expand.
It will cater for businesses ranging from graphic design to software development and will generate in the region of 30 new jobs.
Around 25 jobs will be created at a new Enterprise Centre in the village of Kilcar with seven units available for rent. A total of €355,000 has been allocated towards the costs of the new project.
Rental units are also being built at existing Community Resource centres in Greencastle and Glengad in north Donegal and the Fund has contributed €350,000 and €208,000 to these projects.
A high-tech incubation workshop, which will be an off-campus facility of the Institute of Technology of Dundalk, is to be created in Drogheda providing space for fledgling businesses in the software and ICT sectors. It is expected that 30 jobs will be created there in the first two years. The Fund is contributing €322,000 towards the costs of the project.
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