The establishment of the Clare County Development Board was described by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dempsey, as nothing short of a radical departure in local governance.
Launching the board in Ennis yesterday, Mr Demspey said the establishment of the CDBs was a tremendous opportunity to get meaningful co-operation and co-ordination between State and local development agencies. According to the director of the board, Mr Eamon Naughton, the first responsibility of the CCDB will be to draw up and implement an integrated strategy for the economic, social and cultural development of Clare for the period to the end of 2010.
There are 27 board members. Eight will be drawn from local authorities and eight from State agencies, while six will be drawn from the local development sector with a further five from the social partners.