*Photograph: Eamon Ward
Increased workshops are to be held to prioritise strategic project development in West and North Clare.
Establishment of a strategic project development working group was sought by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) at a recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District. Its focus would be to prioritise and resource the development of key projects. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Shane Talty (FF).
Director of Service with Clare County Council, Leonard Cleary cautioned that the creation of a sub-committee could lead to a rift between the nine elected members in the West Clare MD and instead suggested more workshops be held, a viewpoint which Cllr Garrihy agreed with.
“I am hearing clearly in the motion an appetite for involvement of Elected Members in discussions, as appropriate. While the Municipal District comprises nine Elected Members and an Executive Team, which is the largest MD in the county, I view the Municipal District Committee and Executive as a Working Group similar to that proposed in the Motion. It is important to keep all nine Elected Members equally involved in this Plan and programme. A sub-committee could result in the exclusion of some Elected Members,” the Director of Rural Development stated.
Recent months have seen the West Clare MD adopt a ‘Plan of Priority Strategic Projects for the West Clare Municipal District’. It “is a policy statement of priorities and vision,” Cleary explained with aspects progressed with a view to obtaining funding from the Government.
