Coffey welcomes over €100,000 worth of Department of Health funding for projects in Waterford

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy Paudie Coffey has welcomed news from that the Department of Health that over €100,000 has been awarded for three projects in Waterford. The three projects that will benefit are the new Grow It Yourself Project in Waterford City that has a site opposite Waterford Regional Hospital that will receive in excess of €75,400 and The Portlaw Red Cross Society will receive over €7,300 and Waterford Intellectual Disability Group will also benefit to the tune of €20,000.

“The Grow It Yourself movement is made up of people and community food-growing groups. This is a national movement with its headquarters based in Waterford City. There are over 50,000 GIYers and over 800 food growing projects involved in the movement currently and. GIY launched a fundraising drive in late October 2013 to raise €750,000; this funding will cover 10% of the total amount GIY have targeted to raise.

“On the 25th of November this year the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD came to Waterford to officially launch GIY’s new HQ in Waterford City. I am delighted for all those involved in GIY and in particular its founder Michael Kelly who I have worked closely with over the course of the last number of months. His dedication, enthusiasm and vision for this project have to be commended and I will continue to be of any assistance to Michael and GIY as they progress this project into the future.

“The Grow it Yourself Project has huge health benefits as it produces healthy food; it encourages people to be more active in their local community; and as a result of this it ties in with EU and Irish health policy to encourage people to reduce obesity in society.

“This once again underpins this government’s commitment to projects that will develop Waterford City in a sustainable manner long into the future. Resources are scarce but if they are allocated in a focussed way, the benefit to local communities and to local economies can be enormous and reap significant rewards.

“I am also pleased that over €7,300 worth of funding will be provided for Portlaw Red Cross Society, this is a project that I have been deeply committed to for many years and it has developed in a strong community group that provides assistance to those most in need. Portlaw Irish Red Cross are a very active community based branch that provides emergency response to cardiac emergencies- they also have a youth cadet unit and do first aid courses and training, general awareness and school visits and everyone involved are volunteers.

“There is also positive news for Waterford Intellectual Disability Group who will also receive €20,000 that will be used for improving the premises in Ferrybank to bring it in line with HIQA standard, which I also welcome. This is a vital service for the people of Waterford and for the people that it helps throughout the city and county of Waterford. ”

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