Taskforce review findings to be examined next year

AT Tuesday’s meeting of Kilrush Electoral Area county councillors in the Vandeleur Walled Gardens, Councillor Christy Curtin asked that the findings of the recent review carried out on the six proposed actions of the West Clare Economic Task Force be published and discussed by the Kilrush Electoral Area meeting, with a view to progressing phase two of the programme.

However, in reply, Clare County Council said that instead of publishing the findings, a meeting will be held in early 2013 to examine the review.

In July 2010, the six-point taskforce plan undertook that some of the half-dozen aims would be achieved inside 12 months. However the report, which was launched by then Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, made no reference to the specific number of jobs that the blueprint may help to create. It did indicate, though, that if the six ideas were implemented, employment would be created as a result.

One of the proposals was to establish a Kilrush-based West Clare Tourism Centre, which would act as a one-stop shop for tourism in the region. Kilrush Town Council was described in the report as the “lead agency” in the establishment of the tourism centre.

In the report, Kilrush Town Council was also given responsibility for the provision of tourism information boards in West Clare, the provision of a telescope at Loop Head and the marketing of historical sites.
Clare County Council undertook to head up a two to five-year plan to develop Loop Head Lighthouse in Kilbaha as a major tourist attraction. Areas of potential, which were to be worked on, included the provision of parking and road maintenance at the Bridges of Ross, shore-based dolphin watching at Loop Head, along with designated walking, cycling and hiking options. Among the other proposals is carrying out an evaluation of existing business accommodation in West Clare and marketing the premises to prospective entrepreneurs.

Taskforce progress was discussed in detail at the July Kilrush Electoral Area meeting, where the opening of Loop Head Lighthouse was highlighted as one of the few actions of the taskforce.

However, at this week’s meeting in Kilrush, Clare County Council engineer Cyril Feeney said the recent taskforce review will be discussed early in the new year.
“The review of the West Clare Economic Task Force was a very useful exercise and highlighted a number of issues from some of the other stakeholders. A key issue from a number of stakeholders was that due to re-organisations and amalgamations within their respective bodies, they were unsure as to what level of input they could commit to the taskforce in the future,” Mr Feeney said in reply to Councillor Curtin’s motion.

“Therefore, rather than just publish and discuss the review among the Kilrush Electoral Area members, it is important to invite all the stakeholders to assess this review. We would look to convene this meeting in early 2013 and, hopefully, the other stakeholders will be able to bring clarity to their future in the taskforce at that time,” he added.