LETTER:WCDP refutes claim by Co Council CEO

SIR – I refer to the lead article, ‘Former LEADER group praised by Councillors,’ in The Southern Star dated September 17th.

Comments attributed to Cork County Council CEO Tim Lucey state that ‘the Council convened meetings with WCDP representatives over a 12-month period to do everything in its power to encourage a partnership and collaborative approach.’ 

Despite such grandiose claims, the Council did nothing of the sort. For the record it should be mentioned that the sole attempt to build ‘a partnership and collaborative approach’ was made by the WCDP, which sought to ensure that a new partnership to accommodate all stakeholders in West Cork – WCDP, Cork County Council, sectoral, community, social inclusion and environmental interests – would be created in line with EU Commission requirements for community-led local development.  

The purpose of this was to ensure, to the greatest possible extent, that the combined resources, vision and abilities of all stakeholders would be represented in the planning and delivery of the LEADER programme to 2020. This proposal was rejected with little evident discussion or interest by the West Cork Local Community Development Committee – a committee of Cork County Council.  

One wonders why? Such discussions as did take place offered nothing in the way of genuine partnership or collaborative approach and consisted of little more than a series of ultimatums to the WCDP from Cork County Council officials and others.

I look forward to commenting further on this and all related matters in due course. There’s much to be said.

Yours sincerely.

Ian Dempsey, CEO,

West Cork Development 

Partnership

West Cork Technology 

Park,

Clonakilty.