The county’s current LEADER group, Clare Local Development Company, has been given the green light by the Department of Environment to proceed with writing a new LEADER plan for Co. Clare for the 2014-2020 period.

As part of their extensive consultation process CLDC will be holding a series of public consultation meetings in the county in the coming weeks for communities, local businesses and interested individuals.  CLDC Chairman, Stephen Walsh explained: “We really want to hear what people on the ground think LEADER should be doing for their communities. In recent weeks we have visited almost every community in Co. Clare to talk to local people about the next LEADER programme and have got very strong feedback on how rural communities want LEADER to help them in the coming years”.

“These public meetings are a further opportunity for rural communities to talk to CLDC about how LEADER can best meet the needs that they see in their local area.  These discussions will form the basis of our LEADER plan for 2014-2020” said CEO Doirin Graham.

The public meetings will take place in Lisdoonvarna on Sept 2^nd, Carrigaholt on Sept 3^rd, Clarecastle on Sept 9^th, Kilmihil on Sept 10^th, Killaloe on Sept 15^th and Sixmilebridge on Sept 16^th, all commencing at 7.30pm. Further information on dates, times and venues is available from www.cldc.ie/leader2014-2020 or by calling CLDC at 065 686 6800.

Meanwhile, CLDC’s ‘Call for Members’ is attracting a great deal of interest from communities and businesses around the county.  “This is a great opportunity for communities and businesses to elect their members to the Board of CLDC and be at the centre of decision-making in the new LEADER programme” said Mr Walsh.  The closing date for membership applications for voting in the 2015 Board elections is Monday August 31^st.  Nominations for Board seats should be submitted to CLDC by September 18^th.  Further information is available from members@cldc.ie or on www.cldc.ie

The new LEADER programme will kick off later in 2015 after the successful LEADER Plan (Local Development Strategy) for Co. Clare has been selected by a national Independent Evaluation Committee.  Clare County Council’s Local Community Development Committee will also be submitting a LEADER Plan for consideration.

ENDS