About Us
Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd is a Limited company registered in Ireland under company registration number 291218.
It also is registered by the Charities Section of the Revenue Commissioner of Ireland as holding charitable status under reference CHY 15338.
It is a subsidiary of DFBA Community Enterprises Ltd.
Structure of DFBA
Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd. 2008 - 2012
An Integrated Set of Innovative Projects
Introduction
DFBA (Dunhill-Fenor-Boatstrand-Annestown) (one parish) Community Enterprises Ltd was founded in 1993 as a voluntary community based development group. Its aim is to develop our local community/s socially, economically and culturally using all the resources available. We aimed at using all the resources available from community, public agency and private sources. Its formation was prompted by high and growing unemployment, falling pupil and teacher numbers in both local primary schools and many young people leaving to find suitable jobs in keeping with their hard earned qualifications. One of the drivers in taking action was the emergence of the bottom up approach promoted by Co. Council, Government and EU under the PESP (Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
In 1998, DFBA along with Bonmahon and Stradbally founded the Copper Coast Project which concerns a 15 kilometre stretch of coastline which has ecological formations of interest – national and international. It has since received EU and UNESCO designation as a geopark, currently the only such park in the Republic of Ireland.
In 1999, Dunhill Rural Enterprises was formed to develop an enterprise culture and to create new job opportunities locally. DREL is a subsidiary of DFBA as is Fenor Bog, Community Markets, Dunhill, Fenor and Annestown Tidy Towns, Anne Valley Wetlands and Boatstrand/ Annestown Community Group.
Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd, (DREL) is a limited, not-for-profit community-based development company, with charitable status.
DREL Project Units Working At Solutions
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With acknowledgement to Carnegie Trust, Irish Rural Link & Wexford Partnership for 'Flower Concept'
Current Activities
1. DREL manages the Dunhill Eco-park an 11.5 acres of land zoned light industrial which is the process of being upgraded to eco status. In the ecopark we have developed a 35,000ft2 enterprise centre accommodating 26 businesses and 100 jobs. We have set a total jobs target for the ecopark when complete at 350 and by 2012.
2. DREL also has a Multi-Education Centre which has educated and trained over 1,200 students since opening in 2004.
3. DREL established an Equality & Diversity Unit which opened in January 2008 and has a training programme catering for 10 people with disabilities on an accredited business course which prepares them for work and /or further education.
4. Our Rural Research and Innovation Unit set up in September 2007 has researched and developed a range of projects.
5. DREL manages Dunhill Castle with 6.12 acres.
6. DREL has been responsible for one project providing 40 affordable houses in Dunhill Village that provides for young families.
7. DREL is in the process of developing a walking trail around Knockaderry Lake which is supported by the Co. Council.
8. DREL has purchased land in the village previously unavailable to developers or only available at uneconomic levels, which facilitates the County Council’s plans and strong wish to provide a proper sewerage system in the village and enable it to develop in an orderly manner through establishment of Integrated Constructed Wetlands for environmentally sustainable effluent treatment from new developments.
9. DREL has also purchased land in the village to provide 16 affordable houses and 7 private houses on a site next to land purchased by Gleann Ealach, a subsidiary company, which plans to build 28 homes for the elderly and a daycare centre. The total land bank in the village is 21 acres.
A Vision for the Future
The local community is recognised Nationally and internationally for successfully pioneering Integrated Constructed Wetland [ICW] systems for natural and environmental handling of agricultural and residential effluent. The system is now also being piloted very successfully in the enterprise park for handling effluent of the businesses. Currently we have prioritised a number of capital projects for which we need funds and the advice and direction which will give us the best chance of getting them. We have received commitments from agencies on substantial funding but there are some gaps.
The developments both completed and planned are aimed at having a major impact on Co. Waterford and its economic and tourism infrastructure and how communities are organised in the future. It is also aimed at regional awakening and will throw a spotlight on the power of community action and trying to show that what is being done can be transferred regionally, nationally and internationally.
The DREL vision is not focused within the boundaries of the current enterprise park, but is aimed at forming a dynamic network of community self-help and interdependence that if successful will revolutionise the role of community and volunteer in furthering social responsibility, economic vibrance, environmental accountability, educational inclusion and overall community influence on family and individuals through which both family and individual will prosper as a unit.
