Economic development body to be reviewed
Community Affairs Minister Eamon O´ Cuiv feels the Western Development Commission may be overlapping with the work of other state bodies.
Announcing plans to begin a review of the commission, Minister O´ Cuiv said the review will focus on the unnecessary duplication of work. The review will look at the value for money aspect and the minister said he intends to bring proposals on the WDC’s future to the cabinet by the autumn.
The WDC was set up to make recommendations on infrastructural development in the western counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare. It was the first statutory body established with a specific focus on the region.
Having fought long and hard to secure a statutory development body for the region, western campaigners will be concerned about any potential downgrading of the WDC’s remit.
Last year, the WDC published ‘The State of the West’, which was highly critical of the Government’s record of investment in the west.
Towards the end of last year, WDC chief executive Liam Scollan resigned citing the lack of resources made available to the body as a determining factor in his decision.
Last night, Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marion Harkin said she was keeping an open mind on the matter, but wanted Minister O´ Cuiv to clarify his intentions in establishing the review.
