Following a series of information briefings which were held throughout the county, to which Community and Voluntary groups were invited, the Kerry County Development Board and Community and Voluntary Forums have now been established. In total 9 such meetings were held and over 300 organisations were represented at the meetings. The formulation of both the Board and the Forum are the first steps in a process designed to give this sector an input to policy-making at a county level. Government is about local people and these structures provide an opportunity to harness a spirit of partnership for the benefit of the community.

Kerry County Development Board - Current Position

The Kerry County Development Board has been established arising from a recommendation contained in the reports of the Inter-Departmental Task Force Report on the Integration of the Local Government and Local Development Systems (August, 1998, and April, 1999). Membership of the County Development Board is drawn from four sectors namely: (a) Local Government sector (b) Local Development sector (c) State sector (d) Social Partners The two nominees representing the Community and Voluntary organisations on the Board are: 1. Ms. Helen Fitzgerald, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. 2. Mr. Joe Walsh, Castleisland, Co. Kerry. The Kerry County Development Board was officially launched on 18 February, 2000, by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D., being the first official launch by the Minister of a Board in the country. The inaugural meeting of the Kerry County Development Board was also held on 18 February, 2000. The schedule of forthcoming meetings for the Board for the year 2000, were agreed, i.e. 4 in number, from April to November, 2000. The Kerry County Development Board now replaces the County Strategy Group which has operated up to this time.

Membership of the Kerry County Community and Voluntary Forum:

Caherciveen Area	Diarmuid Ó Sé, Uasal Ms. Christina Maguire
Castleisland Area	Mr. Joe Walsh Mr. Larry Long
Dingle Area	Mr. Jimmy Bambury Ms. Helen Fitzgerald
Kenmare Area	Ms. Aileen Darcy Mr. Tadhg O'Donoghue
Killarney Area	Mr. Jim O'Shea Ms. Eileen Mayse
Killorglin Area	Mr. Mike Dowd Mrs. Margaret Casey
Listowel Area	Mr. Michael Dowling Mr. Sean Quinlan
Rathmore Area	Mr. John O'Neill Mr. Tim Gleeson
Tralee Area	Antóin Ó Caoimh, Uasal Ms. Ann O'Dwyer

Kerry County Community and Voluntary Forum:

The membership of the Forum consists of 18 persons as detailed above. The first meeting of the Forum was held on 10 February, 2000. The Forum, at its first meeting, selected its two nominees to the Kerry County Development Board, namely Ms. Helen Fitzgerald and Mr. Joe Walsh. Ms. Sheila Cahill, Staff Officer, Community & Enterprise Department, Kerry County Council, was proposed by the meeting to act as Secretary to the Forum and as a single point of contact for the Forum. At a second meeting of the Forum, held on 1 March, 2000, the Forum elected its Chairperson, namely Mr. Sean Quinlan, Listowel. The meeting then agreed their nominations to Kerry County Council's Strategic Policy Committee as follows: Transport SPC Mr. Jimmy Bambury, Dingle Environment SPC Mr. Tim Gleeson, Gneeveguilla Housing & Social Support SPC Ms. Christina Maguire, Caherciveen Ms. Eileen Mayse, Killarney Culture, Heritage & Recreation SPC Ms. Ann O'Dwyer, Tralee Mr. Mike Dowd, Killorglin

What is your opinion?

Your community representatives, as part of their brief will bring overall Community and Voluntary policy issues to the attention of both the Community and Voluntary Forum and the Kerry County Development Board.

However, these issues, must be indicative of concerns that are real to Community and Voluntary organisations/groups in each area. Therefore, to ensure that this happens, the Community and Voluntary Forum has asked that you complete the attached questionnaire and return to Sheila Cahill, Staff Officer, Community & Enterprise Department, Kerry County Council, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry, not later than Monday, 20 March, 2000.

This is your opportunity to ensure that the issues and views of the Community and Voluntary sector are heard.