Killeen to launch task force report

THE West Clare Economic Task Force, which is chaired by Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin, will launch their report next Tuesday in the Vandeleur Walled Garden, Kilrush at 12 noon.

Councillor Pat Keane originally suggested the establishment of the West Clare Economic Task Force almost four years ago. However, the task force was restructured at a Kilrush Electoral Area meeting in Carrigaholt last year. This was followed by the creation of a sub-committee, comprising Councillor Curtin; Nora Kaye, Clare County Council director of services and John Keogh of Shannon Development.
The sub-committee reported to the Kilrush Electoral Area Meeting in Labasheeda last January and hinted that they may have positive news to divulge in the near future.
However, Mr Keogh said that he couldn’t reveal full details at that stage.
“There are a number of things that we can’t talk about at the moment, that we’re working on,” he said at the time. That “positive news” has not been referred to since.
Mr Keogh gave details of what he termed the “idea generation phase” of the process undertaken by the sub-committee. This involved seven “idea generation sessions”, which were attended by almost 50 people in Kilrush Town Hall and at the Information Age Park in Ennis.
The sub-committee has engaged with individuals, local authorities, community groups and Government ministers in an effort to generate ideas to help the economic development of West Clare.
Members of the full West Clare Economic Task Force attended a workshop in Ennis last March, where they generated nine job-creation ideas, in the company of professional facilitator, Anne McKeown.
The fruits of the West Clare Task Force’s four-year existence will be revealed on Tuesday, when Minister Tony Killeen will launch their report and recommendations.
Task force chairman Councillor Christy Curtin told The Clare Champion that his objectives are simple.
“What I’m looking for from this is an action plan and a time frame for that action plan,” he explained.