Time to put the plan into action

A SIX-point plan to help stimulate the West Clare economy over the next five years, with some of the aims due to be achieved inside 12 months, was unveiled in Kilrush on Tuesday.
Speaking at the launch of the West Clare Economic Task Force report, committee chairman and Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin acknowledged that action and not reports or talk would measure the success of the plan in the coming years.
However, the report, which was launched by Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, made no reference to the specific number of jobs the blueprint may help to create. It did indicate though that if the six ideas are implemented, employment would be created.
One of the proposals is to establish a Kilrush-based West Clare Tourism Centre, which would act as a one-stop shop for tourism in the region. It is envisaged that the centre would include a booking office, a museum, an exhibition area and a café.
Kilrush Town Council was described in the report as the “lead agency” with regard to the development of the tourism centre, along with Shannon Development and Clare County Council. This project has been given a three to five-year time scale.
Kilrush Town Council will also be responsible 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 is to head up a two to five-year plan to develop Loop Head lighthouse in Kilbaha as a major tourist attraction.
Areas of potential that are to be worked on include 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 for an evaluation of existing business accommodation in West Clare to be carried out and the premises marketed to prospective entrepreneurs.
It is envisaged that this will be achieved inside 12 months, with Shannon Development responsible for this element of the plan.
Furthermore, the Clare Enterprise Board is to produce a feasibility study to evaluate potential markets for horticulture in West Clare, while Clare County Council is to work with relevant agencies to produce an international marketing plan for the Shannon Estuary and adjacent zoned land.
The West Clare Economic Task Force consists of several agencies, including Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, Kilkee Town Council, Shannon Development, Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Clare Local Development Company, FÁS, Clare County Enterprise Board, Clare Vocational Education Committee and Enterprise Ireland.
Following a proposal from Councillor Pat Keane, the West Clare Economic Task Force was set up in January 2008. After a protracted period of inaction, a sub-committee was established in October 2009, which was chaired by Councillor Christy Curtin and included Nora Kaye of Clare County Council and John Keogh of Shannon Development.
Since then, almost 100 people attended seven idea-generating sessions, before the ideas presented were eventually whittled down to six.
Speaking at Tuesday’s launch, Councillor Curtin emphasised there is little point in bringing out a report if the proposals are not acted upon as soon as possible.
“This is going to be measured by results, not by talk. The targets are set, the workload is allocated and the drivers are identified. We now need delivery within the specified times,” he said.
“Within the booklet, the actions have been identified and the drivers have been clearly named. It will now be the responsibility of the drivers to force the issue and to force the agenda onto the deliver stage.
“We, as the public representatives, as the watchdogs of the public interest in West Clare, we will monitor that progress,” Councillor Curtin added.

n For more on the task force report,
see page 6