Speaking at the launch of the West Clare Economic Task Force report in the Kilrush Vandeleur Walled Gardens on Tuesday, Defence Minister Tony Killeen described the report as an economic milestone for the region. Minister Killeen also highlighted the fact that several agencies had helped to draw up the report.

“The coming together of so many agencies from throughout West Clare and the region, to set a roadmap for further developing the economic status of the West Clare area, is a significant milestone. I have no doubt that the economic development of West Clare will have positive implications for Clare and the wider Mid-West region,” Minister Killeen suggested.
He maintained that addressing the countries economic crisis in a rational manner is one of the ways in which the economy might improve.
“In many ways this report charts a route forward although this stage is just a staging post. One of the significant things from my point of view is that people understood that the way to deal with the problems which we have to face is to bring all the interested parties together and try to chart a sensible, attainable way forward to address that,” Minister Killeen stated.

Report justifies Kilrush councillors existence

Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin, who is chairman of the West Clare Economic
Task Force Committee, believes that the report justifies the work and existence of the six Kilrush Electoral Area county councillors.
There have been suggestions in recent months that town councils could be abolished and county councils slimmed down in order to save public money. While the Kilrush area has six county councillors, there are 32 county councillors elected to Clare County Council.
“I think we have given one model that can justify the existence of Clare County Council at an area level. With my other five colleagues I look forward to the next stage and monitoring delivery,” Councillor Curtin said.
“The objectives set by the task force at its conception was to consider the future economic development of West Clare and to identify a number of actions that would assist in improving its economic status in two areas, namely enterprise development and Infrastructure along with tourism,” he explained.
“The task force consulted a wide range of local community groups with a view to identifying what the community felt was needed to keep the area alive and prosperous. Following on from these consultative sessions, the full task force looked at the main areas and set itself the task of identifying a number of key actions which could be progressed cohesively through partnership in these two areas. The task force has now set itself the challenge to take this plan a step further and work together at delivering on these actions with the support of the local community”, Councillor Curtin concluded.
Meanwhile Shannon Development’s John Keogh, who was on the sub committee along with Councillor Curtin and Nora Kaye, Clare County Council, described the plan as “specific, measurable, achievable and realistic.” He believes that the targets set down will be met and that the agencies involved will make the plan happen.
“The time frames are down. There’s no hiding from it. It’s very open. The one thing that drove this totally and it blew us all away, was the complete passion and commitment from people from West Clare working together. It was just a great experience for me, working with all the agencies and the councillors. I know a lot of agencies and people in political life might get a lot of stick now and again but the commitment and work ethic of everyone working together was just amazing to see,” he said.