*The Shannon Estuary.
HOUSING, increased investment in Co Clare and harnessing the potential of the Shannon Estuary are among the three goals that the Chief Executive of Clare County Council is targeting success in his seven year term.
Tuamgraney native Gordon Daly took on the role of Chief Executive of the Council in May or a seven year term with the option of a three year extension.
During an in-depth interview with The Clare Echo, the Chief Executive outlined his “three key priorities” for his seven year tenure.
Not alone will increasing the activation of housing deliver more homes for the people of Clare but will work as an enabler, he explained. “I’ve touched on one of them and that is increasing housing delivery but not just that in itself, at the back of that the outcomes I want to achieve from it in addition to homes for people are increased town regeneration, addressing rural depopulation and increased economic development, they are key outcomes but it is that we need to see the importance of housing as an enabler to those, I could say we want to do more on rural depopulation but what is the measure to do that, the only measure is more people and if you have more people you need to provide housing for them or at least the choice, there’s no guarantees that in areas of rural depopulation that people are going to live there but my sense is that they will, people take great pride in place, all parts of Co Clare, we’ve forty six rural parishes, they all have their own identity and their right to survive and thrive, they all have people who belong to their place and to return there”.
Daly said increased investment into the county is also to the top of his agenda. “We need continuous investment in the county, the services, the roads and the infrastructure of thirty years ago are very different to now and will always need a cycle of continuous improvement, investment in our water services infrastructure, cultural infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, community infrastructure, sports and recreation infrastructure, transport infrastructure, we need continued investment in the infrastructure of Co Clare, that is a priority and it is ongoing”.
Capitalising on the benefits of offshore energy is a more long-term vision for the Chief Executive. “It is slightly more longer-term, it is one where we need to get some work done or lay the foundations, Clare has a huge opportunity for offshore energy and harnessing the potential of the Shannon Estuary, we are uniquely placed, we’re very different to a county in the Midlands that may not even have a coastline, we have a coastline but also 100 kilometres of frontage along the Shannon Estuary, one of the deepest water ports in Europe, I do want us to see some progress in that area, it will be slower than people initially thought but ten or fifteen years doesn’t be long going by.
“We have to put the building blocks in place now that will help with that, an obvious example of that is something tangible like the national secondary road network particularly the N68 from Ennis to Kilrush, we will be making the case for investment in that route for the local and tourist population but also if the Government is serious about harnessing the potential of offshore renewable energy, we need a really strong road network out to West Clare, in a similar way where there is a Limerick to Foynes motorway being built and a new rail line to there, we need strong infrastructure. Housing as the enabler of the town regeneration, rural depopulation and economic development, investment in Co Clare not just infrastructure but attracting inward investment and continuing to get people to invest in the county and thirdly the unique opportunity for harnessing offshore renewable energy from the Shannon Estuary”.
Clare County County has approximately 1000 employees, he confirmed. When asked if it is enough to achieve his new vision. “Even with 1000 employees we are one of the largest employers in the county. Like any company, any organisation, any part of the public service you’d ask of course you could always do with more people but it is important that we are efficient, focused on our priorities but for now we’re working within the numbers we have and we are clear on our priorities”.
Prior to returning to Clare County Council, Gordon spent a decade as a Director of Service with Limerick City and County Council including working as Deputy Director General. “The importance of communication is really important. That is a real important component of it for me, we are the local authority and we are good at that, we are working with all the key stakeholders and working in partnership with our elected members, our communities, business communities but we are a big organisation so it can be challenging at times. Working in partnership with all the stakeholders that impact on making a better Clare is a priority,” he said of the Limerick learnings he will bring to Clare.
