Preasráiteas: Tugann an tAire Buttimer cuairt ar thionscnaimh phobail i gContae Dhún na nGall
Press Release
Friday, 4 September 2026
Minister Buttimer visits community initiatives in County Donegal
The Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, TD, has today, Friday 4 September, visited initiatives in County Donegal supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister’s visit to the county started at the Letterkenny Volunteer Centre, where he met members of the Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) – a community-led, non-profit organisation that has been supporting individuals, communities, businesses and rural development initiatives across County Donegal for over 30 years.
The DLDC manages and delivers programmes such as LEADER, SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) and Tús that support sustainable, economic and social development throughout County Donegal.
The next stop was the Cairde Le Chéile Community Hub that provides employment and other opportunities for people with disabilities. The Hub received Department funding that supported the fully inclusive facility that serves nearly 50,000 people.
The Minister’s final visit in Letterkenny was to the Donegal Intercultural Platform that received funding under the Community Development Programme to support intercultural and anti-racism awareness. The Donegal Intercultural Platform delivers several intercultural, peace and reconciliation projects under the PEACEPLUS programme.
Speaking in Letterkenny, Minister Buttimer said:
“I am delighted to be here in Donegal today to visit so many important community projects that have been supported by my Department. It is great to see the impact of communities working with county councils and Government to deliver long-term improvements for their areas, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation for this work, it plays such an important role in delivering real benefits.”
The Minister then travelled to Donegal Town, where he paid a visit to the County Donegal Railway Restoration Company. The organisation supports the operation of Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, a community museum with exhibits, audio/visual presentations, library, shop, and education programme. The centre received funding under the LEADER and Community Services Programme (CSP).
Next, the Minister visited the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation, supported by Local Enhancement Programme and CSP funding to carry out works in the community garden, a space used by Foundation members, as well as their carers, families and visitors.
Following this, the Minister travelled to Laghey Hall to view the playground, multi-use games area and sensory garden that was opened in March. The project received support from the DLDC SICAP team, in addition to ongoing developmental support from the DRCDG Social Enterprise Network, in addition to funding under the Town and Village Scheme and Clár Programmes.
The penultimate stop on the Minister’s visit was in Bundoran Community Centre, a space that provides a variety of programs, events and activities for people of all ages and abilities. The Centre received funding under the Department’s LEADER and CSP Schemes with additional support from SICAP.
That evening, Minister Buttimer attended the Opening Ceremony for the European Lifesaving Championship at the Water Safety Ireland Donegal Training Campus. The Campus provides facilities designed to support every stage of lifesaving development, from lifeguard training and certification to advanced tutoring courses and professional revalidation. The European Lifesaving Championships bring together clubs, athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers, and often lead to regional and world-level competition.
Speaking at the Water Safety Ireland Donegal Training Campus, the Minister said:
“The Ceremony for the European Lifesaving Championships at the Water Safety Ireland Donegal Training Campus is a momentous event that celebrates a new chapter in lifesaving training in Ireland. It is a vital step that works towards preventing the loss of lives, which can devastate families and loved ones. I extend my thanks to Water Safety Ireland, and the volunteers that have helped make this important initiative a reality.”
Preasráiteas
Dé hAoine, 4 Meán Fómhair 2026
Tugann an tAire Buttimer cuairt ar
thionscnaimh phobail i gContae Dhún na nGall
Inniu, Dé hAoine an 4 Meán Fómhair, thug an tAire Stáit a bhfuil freagracht air as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, cuairt ar thionscnaimh i gContae Dhún na nGall a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Cuireadh tús le cuairt an Aire ar an gcontae in Ionad Oibrithe Deonacha Leitir Ceanainn, áit ar bhuail sé le baill de Chomhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Dhún na nGall – eagraíocht neamhbhrabúis faoi stiúir an phobail a thacaíonn le daoine aonair, le pobail, le gnólachtaí agus le tionscnaimh forbartha tuaithe ar fud Chontae Dhún na nGall le breis agus 30 bliain anuas.
Bainistíonn agus cuireann an Comhlacht cláir ar fáil ar nós LEADER, an Clár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail agus Tús, a thacaíonn le forbairt inbhuanaithe, eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta ar fud Chontae Dhún na nGall.
Ba é an chéad stad eile ná ionad pobail Cairde Le Chéile, a chuireann fostaíocht agus deiseanna eile ar fáil do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas. Fuair an t-ionad maoiniú ón Roinn chun tacú leis an tsaoráid chuimsitheach seo, a fhreastalaíonn ar bheagnach 50,000 duine.
Ba é an stad deireanach a rinne an tAire i Leitir Ceanainn ná cuairt ar Ardán Idirchultúrtha Dhún na nGall, eagraíocht a fuair maoiniú faoin gClár Forbartha Pobail chun tacú le feasacht idirchultúrtha agus feasacht i gcoinne an chiníochais. Cuireann Ardán Idirchultúrtha Dhún na nGall roinnt tionscadail idirchultúrtha, síochána agus athmhuintearais i gcrích faoin chlár PEACEPLUS.
Ag labhairt i Leitir Ceanainn, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo i nDún na nGall inniu chun cuairt a thabhairt ar an oiread sin tionscadail thábhachtacha pobail ar thug mo Roinn tacaíocht dóibh. Is iontach an rud é an tionchar a fheiceáil a bhíonn ag pobail a oibríonn i gcomhar le comhairlí contae agus leis an Rialtas chun feabhsuithe fadtéarmacha a bhaint amach dá gceantair; gabhaim buíochas ó chroí as an obair seo, mar go bhfuil ról chomh tábhachtach sin aici maidir le fíorbhuntáistí a sholáthar.”
Ansin, thaistil an tAire go baile Dhún na nGall, áit ar thug sé cuairt ar Chomhlacht Athchóirithe Iarnród Chontae Dhún na nGall. Tacaíonn an eagraíocht le hoibriú Ionad Oidhreachta Iarnród Dhún na nGall, músaem pobail ina bhfuil taispeántais, cur i láthair closamhairc, leabharlann, siopa agus clár oideachais. Fuair an t-ionad maoiniú faoi LEADER agus faoi chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail.
Ina dhiaidh sin, thug an tAire cuairt ar Fhondúireacht Riachtanais Speisialta na gCruach; fuair siad tacaíocht ón gClár Feabhsaithe Áitiúil agus maoiniú na Seirbhísí Pobail chun obair a dhéanamh sa ghairdín pobail, spás a úsáideann baill na Fondúireachta, chomh maith lena gcúramóirí, a dteaghlaigh agus cuairteoirí.
Ina dhiaidh sin, thaistil an tAire go Halla Leathaí chun breathnú ar an gclós súgartha, ar an limistéar cluichí ilúsáide agus ar an ngairdín céadfach a osclaíodh i mí an Mhárta. Fuair an tionscadal tacaíocht ó fhoireann an Chláir um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail de chuid Chomhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Dhún na nGall, chomh maith le tacaíocht forbartha leanúnach ó Líonra Fiontar Sóisialta an RFTPG, agus maoiniú faoi Scéim Athnuachana na mBailte agus na Sráidbhailte agus faoi CLÁR.
Ba é Ionad Pobail Bhun Dobhráin an dara stad deireanach ar chuairt an Aire; is ionad é a chuireann réimse clár, imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí ar fáil do dhaoine de gach aois agus de gach cumas. Fuair an t-ionad maoiniú faoi scéimeanna LEADER agus Seirbhísí Pobail na Roinne, chomh maith le tacaíocht bhreise ón gClár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail.
An tráthnóna sin, d’fhreastail an tAire Buttimer ar shearmanas oscailte Chraobhchomórtas Eorpach na Tarrthála Uisce ag Campas Oiliúna Shábháilteacht Uisce Éireann i nDún na nGall. Cuireann an campas áiseanna ar fáil a dearadh chun tacú le gach céim d’fhorbairt scileanna tarrthála uisce – ó oiliúint agus deimhniúchán do mhaoir uisce go cúrsaí teagaisc ardleibhéil agus athdheimhniú gairmiúil. Tagann clubanna, lúthchleasaithe, cóitseálaithe, oifigigh agus oibrithe deonacha le chéile ag Craobhchomórtas Eorpach na Tarrthála Uisce, agus is minic a bhíonn iomaíocht réigiúnach agus dhomhanda mar thoradh orthu.
Ag labhairt ag Campas Oiliúna Shábháilteacht Uisce Éireann i nDún na nGall, dúirt an tAire:
“Is ócáid shuntasach í searmanas Chraobhchomórtas Eorpach na Tarrthála Uisce ag Campas Oiliúna Shábháilteacht Uisce Éireann i nDún na nGall, ócáid a dhéanann ceiliúradh ar ré nua oiliúint tarrthála uisce in Éirinn. Is céim ríthábhachtach í seo chun cabhrú le cosc a chur ar chaillteanas beatha – rud a bhriseann croíthe theaghlaigh agus ar dhaoine muinteartha. Gabhaim buíochas le Sábhailteacht Uisce Éireann agus leis na hoibrithe deonacha a chabhraigh leis an tionscnamh tábhachtach seo a chur i gcrích.”