Plans to develop the potential of the River Barrow as a major regional tourist attraction in the south-east have received a setback with the news that Leader funding - an EU and State grant scheme for new, largely rural, business start-ups - is to be curtailed.
Tourism operators have described the Leader fund as vital and had hoped it would be expanded to develop new boathire companies and leisure facilities along the waterway, which is navigable from the estuary at Wexford to the Grand Canal in Co Kildare.
The Barrow is one of Ireland's most scenic waterways. It connects through the Grand Canal to the Shannon, which in turn connects to Lough Erne through the Shannon-Erne Link. Navigation to Waterford city is possible along the River Suir.
Following the setting up of the all-Ireland waterways body, Waterways Ireland, it was hoped the tourism potential of the Barrow could be realised.
However, while Waterways Ireland has taken over the role of promoting the Shannon-Erne link, and tourism for the Shannon and the Erne, a spokesman for the body acknowledged last week that there is no development plan for the Barrow as yet.
In the Shannon region the International Fund For Ireland provides grants for tourism ventures, but again the Barrow has, apparently, been overlooked.
Now the Leader fund is to be cut back by as much as two-thirds, and the southern and eastern region, which no longer qualifies for Objective 1 status, is expected to bear the brunt of the cuts.
Mr Billy O'Carroll and his wife Mary started a business on the Barrow this year renting out narrow boats. Based in Kilkenny, they saw the potential for huge growth in tourism on the river and are keen to see others develop new attractions which those who rent boats can visit.
"The Leader funding was vital, there wouldn't have been a business without it," Mr Carroll said. The business, Leisure Afloat, was one of the last to qualify under the Leader II fund, having been told by some regional Leader companies that funding had run out. They eventually secured 30 per cent funding from Leader in south Kildare and purchased two narrow boats which they based at Levistown, Co Kildare.
The absence of Leader funding would "be a very retrograde step. In some places there is a lot of scope for further development and the funding is essential. It won't happen otherwise," Mr O'Carroll added.
Mr Darragh Murphy, of Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development, which administered the Leader II funds in the Carlow-Kilkenny and south-east Tipperary region, acknowledged that Leader funds would be reduced this year, although he felt this should not close out tourism ventures.
BNS is currently tendering for the contract to administer the next tranche of Leader funds in the region. It administered £3.63 million in funds during Leader II. It is not known how much the region will receive next time, but it is expected the £90 million made available in the Republic for Leader II will be reduced to about £50 million for the next period.
Mr Murphy added, however, that the recently announced small town renewal tax incentives would also be a help to places like Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, on the Barrow.
