A major expansion of the Community Development Programme in the midlands will be announced tomorrow week in Athlone by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern.
The setting up of a regional community development support unit in Athlone marks the beginning of an important expansion in the midlands of the programme, which is funded by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Support agencies are organisations contracted by the Department in each region to provide initial and ongoing support to community development programmes through training, networking and advice.
The first task of the agency, which will be known as the Midlands Regional Support Agency, will be to establish four new community development projects and five community and family resource centres. The community development projects will be located in Edenderry, Co Offaly, Portlaoise, Co Laois, Longford town, and there will be another in Co Roscommon.
The family resource centres will be in Ballymahon, Co Longford, Ballinacarrigy, Clara, Arden View, in Tullamore and in Portarlington, Co Laois.
Two community development projects are already operating in this region - Harmony Community Development Programme, in Athlone and the Tullamore Traveller Movement. Until now these projects were supported by the West Training Support Agency based in Galway. Mr Gerry Finn, chairman of the new management committee of MRSA, said the setting up of the support agency in Athlone was significant.
"It will be a major boost to community development in the region and I am sure it will be an invaluable resource to all involved in the community and voluntary sector," said Mr Finn, who is also director of the Border, Midlands and Western Regional Assembly.