Text Box: Rural Isolation and Rural Development are core themes of Meitheal Chiarraí and given the rural nature of County Kerry are important ones for the Kerry County Development Board. A new approach to rural development is being piloted in the North Kerry village of Ballylongford. The approach being lead by Kerry County Council, and supported by other lead agencies operating in that part of the County, brings together community leaders, elected representatives and development agencies to plan for a better future for the area. Ballylongford is an area with many natural strengths, not least of all the people who live in the area and have shown a great enthusiasm for this project. However, the area has also shown high levels of depopulation and this coupled with a high unemployment rate means that development in the area has slowed considerably in the past number of years.

Integration at a local level – Pilot Project in Ballylongford commences – Aoife McCormack, Community & Enterprise Development Officer.
Text Box: Niamh O’Sullivan, Community & Enterprise Development Officer charts progress on the development of a Countywide Policy on Playgrounds and Playareas.

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Bord Forbartha Chontae Chiarraí

Newsletter
Text Box: Minister announces review of Local and Community Development Programmes The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D. announced on the 18th February, 2003 some initial steps that he, in conjunction with Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for the Environment & Local Government and Michael McDowell T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, is taking towards bringing greater cohesion across local and community development programmes. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established against a background of concern at the multiplicity of structures through which schemes and programmes relating to community and local development are delivered. Minister Ó Cuiv’s Department is now working closely with other Government Departments whose work directly affects local and community development, so as to deliver the most practical and effective support possible to this sector. As a first step the Ministers are instituting a comprehensive consultation process with the providers of schemes and programmes and the social partners on improving local delivery structures. The Ministers have also agreed that a review of Area Development Management Ltd., the body through which the Government channels of the order of €100m. per annum towards such schemes and programmes, should be initiated. In order to support greater coherence at local level, the Ministers have decided that various local agencies and boards should submit their business plans for 2003 to City/County Development Boards for endorsement. County and City Childcare Committees are being included within this arrangement. Text Box:

Contact Details:: Community & Enterprise Department, Kerry County Council, Áras an Chontae, Tralee.

Tel: 066-7183680                E-mail: cdb@kerrycoco.ie

Fax: 066-7183678               Website: www.kerrycdb.ie