Jim Higgins
Question:1 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach in view of his commitment to Dáil Éireann on 11 May 1994 the composition of the Western Development Partnership Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Western Development Board.
In line with my statement on 11 May, the Government has agreed terms of reference for the Western Development Board and nominees have been obtained from county enterprise boards, Leader groups, area partnership companies and the forum group in Connemara. The board membership will include representatives of the social partners and the State development agencies. In total there will be 14 members, including the chairperson.
The process of establishing the new board and appointing members is virtually completed. It will be finalised later this week and the inaugural meeting of the board will take place in early July.
The strategic focus of the board will be to provide direction to the activities of the various public agencies and community based organisations involved in economic development in the west and to do this through an action plan to be compiled and published within 12 months. I am satisfied that the new board will be fully representative and play a key role in enhancing the development of the west.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. One of the authors and driving forces behind the report. Archbishop Joseph Cassidy of Tuam, has announced his retirement, and I am sure we all agree he was an outstanding, humane and progressive Archbishop gifted with superb powers of communication and that he will be sorely missed. I am happy, however, that he will continue to head the Developing the West Together crusade.
Will the new partnership board have a chief executive officer? Where will the board be based? Also, in view of the fact that the focus for this came from the western bishops, will one of the western bishops be represented on the board?
I expect the board will decide that a chief executive officer is necessary. It is a matter for the board to decide and I am leaving it to them. The question of where it will be located is also a matter for the board. I believe that is what the people there would expect. We all appreciate the magnificent contribution Archbishop Cassidy made to the development of the west and to encouraging every type of community activity, local development and voluntary organisations, throughout the west. He has been a beacon of light in the development of the west and we are delighted that despite the fact he is retiring early, he will continue to be active in that role.
Will the Taoiseach agree that the western bishops, who have given much needed focus to the particular problems in the west and who understand the problems, should be represented on the board?
I am not making a judgement on whether they should be on the board. Nominations have been sent in and will be completed within a week or so to allow the board to start up early in July.
I join Deputy Higgins and the Taoiseach in wishing Archbishop Cassidy every good fortune and health in his retirement. The Western Development Partnership Board is nothing but a toothless talking shop. Will the Taoiseach outline the powers he expects the board will have and what it will be enabled to do? Does he expect it to produce an interim report and will it be able to discuss the measures and action the board will be able to take when the report is produced?
The Government set up a task force to look at the report presented to us and we accepted all their recommendations. Deputy Kenny's comments should be directed at the people who asked for what they are now getting. As I said already, it is a matter for the board to put together an action plan and we are not dictating what it should do. That is the way it wants to carry on its business.
What funding, if any, has the board received? We need funding for the west. We know what has to be done. Has any funding been put in place for the board?
I have already put funding in place for the administration of the board. The Deputy is also aware that funding will go to the western region, including Donegal, under the National Development Plan.
What caused the delay in the establishment of the board? Does the Taoiseach agree he will have to take the west a little more seriously after the recent events in west Mayo?
The Deputy does not need to remind me; I come from the west and always take the west seriously. No board was set up or report dealt with as expeditiously as this one. That should be clear to everyone.
It goes to show what a by-election can do.
The Taoiseach stated previously that the problem is population stabilisation. What areas does it propose to tackle in terms of job creation? At the end of the day it is all about jobs.
The question deals with the composition of the board. If the Deputy wishes to put down a series of other questions he should feel free to do so and I will be happy to answer them.