News Release Page Title

3 November 2000

SAM FOSTER LAUNCHES DREAM BOAT IN LOUGH ERNE

Mr Sam Foster, Minister of the Environment, pushed the boat out today on Lough Erne to highlight the importance of local community action in promoting sustainable development of the environment in Northern Ireland.

The Minister was in Enniskillen to officially launch The Devenish Dream, a boat to carry out clean-up exercises such as collecting rubbish and debris within the local Enniskillen and Lough Erne area.

Mr Foster said: "This is the sort of community based action which my Department and indeed Government in general is keen to promote and encourage.

"I am developing proposals for a Sustainable Development strategy which aims to address four key objectives - social progress, effective protection of the Environment, prudent use of natural resources and high levels of growth and employment.

"I am delighted that here in my native County, the Devenish Partnership Forum has taken the lead with the Devenish Dream project. This commitment is a key to encouraging local community action to embark upon the key objectives for sustainable development, in addition to contributing to the principles of Agenda 21 as agreed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992."

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Devenish Partnership Forum was established in 1994 to foster greater local community action to address the social, economic and environmental needs of the area.
  2. The launch of the Devenish Dream boat will be held on Friday 3 November at 2pm at the Round 'O', the Brook, Enniskillen.
  3. The boat was acquired by the Devenish Partnership Forum with assistance from the Fermanagh District Partnership Board and the National Lottery Charities Board.
  4. The launch will be attended by the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Councillor Gerry Gallagher.
  5. The boat, which will also be used for educational and recreational purposes by local groups, was funded with assistance from the Fermanagh District Partnership Board and National Lottery Charities Board.
  6. The Minister's visit, will include a short boat trip on the Lough, concluded with a reception at the nearby Kilmacormick Community Resource Centre. Kilmacormick is an estate on the fringe of Enniskillen situated on the left of the main Irvinestown road.
  7. Directions are as follows:

Approaching Enniskillen from the Belfast Road, turn left into Wellington Road and proceed along it, turn right at Castle Bridge and then left into Derrygonnelly Road. The Round O jetty (where the launch will be held) is on the right.
  1. The Kilmacormick Resource Centre can be reached from the launch site, by proceeding back along the Derrygonnelly Road towards the town centre, turning left into Queen Street, and at the next roundabout turn left into Cornagrade Road. Take the third left turn into Corban Avenue and then take the second right into Yoan Road. The Resource Centre is located here.
  2. For further information please contact Debbie Lindsay DOE Press Office Tel 028 9054 0013.