http___www.wdc.ie_about-us_faqs__1.xml
1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.1 4.1 4.2 5.1 6.1 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.1 11.1 11.2 12.1 13.1 14.1 15.1 16.1 16.2 16.3 17.1 18.1 19.1 20.1 21.1 21.2 22.1 23.1 24.1 24.2 25.1 26.1 27.1 28.1 29.1 30.1 31.1 32.1 33.1 34.1 35.1 36.1 37.1 38.1 39.1 40.1 40.2 41.1 42.1 42.2
The WDC has always recognised that rural tourism can play a key role in promoting sustainable development. Our action plan for rural tourism was outlined in the Blueprint for Tourism Development in the West: An Action Plan for Rural Areas publication. Blueprint recognised that moving tourism growth to rural areas demanded a major shift in policy and practice. It identified that no new body needed to be established to drive development, but that development could be achieved by coordinated intervention from a wide range of existing agencies in the Western Region. This led to the setting up of the Western Development Tourism Programme in 2001. Western Development Tourism Programme The Western Development Tourism Programme (WDTP) oversees the implementation of the Blueprint. The WDTP is chaired by Fáilte Ireland and is comprised of a variety of state and semi-state agencies. In establishing a multi-agency partnership, the WDC aimed to: - Connect tourism development agencies and facilitate partners to design coordinated development strategies for rural tourism. - Use each agency’s resources and skills to create the critical mass necessary to drive development. - Create more targeted opportunities for rural tourism and develop a long-term perspective for rural tourism development. - Pilot and test new ideas for rural tourism. Whether building a partnership between a local tourism group involving a local authority and LEADER company or securing a major regional marketing programme, all projects and programmes initiated by the WDTP are delivered on the basis of economic, social and environmental sustainability. The basic philosophy and indeed the strategic approach of the WDTP anticipates many of the recommendations of the National Tourism Policy Review Group in New Horizons. As a result, key features of the WDTP work programme and outputs include: - environmental best practice; - regional clusters of excellence; - innovative new product development; - activity in non-traditional tourism areas. WDTP’s approach has also facilitated inter-agency partnership for all agencies involved in tourism in the Western Region. This has clearly added value to the work of other tourism agencies. This can be seen in: - the inter-agency partnership across thinking, funding and planning for sustainable rural tourism development; - the delivery of new initiatives; - the regional dimension to LEADER thinking and activities and the provision of tourism expertise and knowledge to LEADER; - capacity building for the trade supported by LEADER, Fáilte Ireland, the Institute for Technology, Sligo and private industry; - reduced duplication of effort across tourism initiatives in the region (i.e. WDTP has established best practices that can be replicated elsewhere); - inter RTA-Shannon Development cooperation – Ireland’s Western Regions Brochure; - investment of €4.2 million and the creation of 25 full and part-time jobs. The WDTP has identified, facilitated and developed 15 rural tourism development projects, since its establishment. These are: - New West Tourism Plan 2002-2004. - Green Box. - Ireland’s Western Regions Brochure. - Walking Through Time. - Walking in the West. - WDTP Training. - www.trueireland.com - Islands Festival Network. - Killary Adventure and Leisure Capital. - Leitrim Presents. - Irish Centre for Sustainable Tourism at the Institute for Technology, Sligo. - Tourism Tastes Trail. - ‘Tourism Matters’ Radio Broadcasts. - Heritage Attraction Review. - Conference – Sustainable Tourism Development in the West. These achievements, at an annual exchequer cost in the region of €100,000 represent excellent ‘value for money’. A more detailed description of the WDTP can be found in the WDC’s Model of Rural Development document. You can download Model of Rural Development here. Since 2001 our involvement in the tourism sector has mainly been through our role within the WDTP and associated projects such as Green Box. However, several of the WDC’s other areas of work also have a positive impact on the tourism sector – particularly, our work on access issues.
1.1 2.1 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 7.1 8.1 8.2 8.3 9.1 10.1 11.1 12.1 12.2 12.3 13.1 14.1 14.2 15.1 16.1 17.1 18.1 19.1 20.1 21.1 21.2 21.3 22.1 23.1 23.2 24.1 24.2 24.3 25.1 26.1 26.2 27.1 29.1 30.1 31.1 31.2 32.1 33.1 34.1 35.1 35.2 35.3 36.1 36.2 37.1 38.1 38.2 38.3 39.1 40.1 40.2 41.1 42.1 43.1 44.1 45.1 45.2 46.1 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 48.1 49.1 49.2 49.3 50.1 51.1 52.1 53.1 53.2 53.3 54.1 55.1 55.2 56.1 57.1 58.1 59.1 60.1 61.1 62.1 62.2 62.3 63.1 64.1 64.2 65.1 65.2 65.3 65.4 66.1 67.1 67.2 68.1 69.1 70.1 71.1 72.1 72.2 73.1 74.1 75.1 76.1 76.2 76.3 77.1 77.2 78.1 79.1 79.2 79.3 79.4 80.1 81.1 81.2
What do we do? The Western Development Commission is a state body set up to develop the Western Region by: - Ensuring that government policy is directed at improving the social and economic situation in the Western Region from Donegal to Clare. Developing projects on a regional basis in sectors such as tourism, industry, marine, renewable energy, technology and organic agri food. - Operating a €32 million Western Investment Fund that provides loans and equity to business and local communities in the Western Region. This Fund operates on a commercial basis and aims to become revolving, re-investing monies back into the Region. Why was the Western Development Commission established? The western region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare) experienced massive and continual population decline for many years. The scale of this decline, coupled with the peripheral location of the region and poor infrastructure, resulted in the region attracting little investment. The lack of job opportunities and widespread emigration led to a public demand to reverse the decline of the western region, an enormous challenge after years of decline. The public demand and the scale of the challenge led to the establishment of the Western Development Commission. What supports the Western Development Commission? The Western Development Commission was established in 1997 on a non-statutory basis by the Irish Government. It became a statutory body on February 1st, 1999, following the enactment of the Western Development Commission Act, 1998, by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The WDC’s role is defined by this Act and its main functions are: - To promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the Western Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare). - To establish, manage and control the Western Investment Fund, a €32 million fund to be invested on a commercial basis in projects in the Western Region. How is the Western Development Commission organised? The Western Development Commission (WDC) is made up of a 9 member Commission chaired by Paddy McGuinness. The WDC has a staff of 11, plus CEO. A full list of the members and staff of the WDC, along with details of its organisation, is available in the about us section. What does the Western Development Commission do? The WDC is a statutory agency with a unique focus on the Western Region. A key aim is to ensure that the interests of the West are always considered at the highest levels of government. The WDC advises the Government on policies affecting the Region and all proposals are based on detailed economic and social research. It also plays an important role in regional development, through strategic initiatives in various sectors such as agriculture and tourism. It manages the Western Investment Fund (WIF), established to fill a “funding gap” adversely affecting businesses and community groups in the region. Using a network of connections in key government departments, state agencies and in local development and community groups, the WDC ensures that it has close links with organisations on the ground while at the same time influencing policy at the highest level. What is the difference between the WDC and the BMW? The WDC is a state agency proactive in facilitating and coordinating regional development strategies for the Western Region, putting proposals to government on policies that promote development in the region and is responsible for operating the WIF. The BMW, also based in Ballaghaderreen, manages the Operational Programme for the Border, Midlands and West under the National Development Plan 2000–2006 and 2007-2013. The BMW Operational Programme sets out the funding programmes designed especially for the BMW region and is implemented by the various agencies at local and national level. The BMW Regional Assembly is charged with managing that Operational Programme, reporting on progress made, managing the evaluation of the Programme and monitoring the general impact of all EU programmes under the NDP. Can you give examples of the development and policy work of the WDC? The WDC has already developed strategies in a number of areas in which the Western Region has a particular advantage including, rural tourism, organic agri-food production and renewable energy. For example, the WDC has facilitated the Western Organic Strategic Initiative, which brings together a dynamic network of organic groups to carry out research on developing the organic food market, along with a training and advisory programme and a website for trading and information dissemination. Much of our policy analysis work has focused on infrastructure, such as roads, telecommunications, energy, air and rail. This work enables the WDC to make recommendations to government on the changes necessary to address the growing gap between the Western Region and the rest of the country. All publications are available here. What resources does the WDC have? The WDC has an operational budget to carry out its policy work, its regional development initiatives and to manage the WIF. The €32 million WIF is earmarked in its entirety for investment in commercial projects and all returns on the investments are reinvested back into the Fund to benefit the Western Region in the future. Does the WDC give grant aid? What kind of projects does the Western Investment Fund invest in? The WIF is divided broadly into three funds: - A Venture Capital Business Fund which provides loans and equity to high growth enterprises. It has already funded projects in areas such as biotechnology, medical devices, tourism infrastructure and software development. - The Strategic Investment Fund which targets flagship projects and initiatives that would have a major impact on the region, such as Knock Airport. - The Local Investment Fund provides loans to community enterprise groups and has invested in projects ranging from a children’s play area, to a company providing home services for the elderly and disabled, a waterworld project and a community enterprise centre. How does the WDC develop initiatives and work with the other development bodies in the region? Initiatives are developed by investigating new opportunities and developing regional strategies. Strategies are developed in partnership with the implementing agencies and the private sector to exploit opportunities on a regional basis. The WDC is not an implementation agency and it depends on the participation of the public and private sector to implement and continue initiatives. For example the WDC published a detailed Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism Development in the West and is now piloting a strategy based on the research called the Western Development Tourism Programme. The steering group of the WDTP is chaired by Fáilte Ireland and is made up of members from the relevant agencies such as, the regional tourism authorities, LEADER, Sligo Institute of Technology, ITIC, and Udarás na Gaeltachta, along with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Is there duplication between the WDC and the work of other agencies? There is no other agency with the remit to develop and proactively facilitate strategies at the regional level within the Western Region. There is no other agency that is commissioned by government to put proposals to them on policy changes appropriate to the Western Region. There is no other agency that has approval to invest in the same way as the WIF, which is only available to projects within the Western Region. How can I keep up to date with the WDC? In addition to its key publications, the WDC publishes an annual report each year and regular newsletters. Copies of these are available from our offices in Ballaghaderreen and are available on our website www.wdc.ie FAQ As Gaeilge Céard a dhéanaimid? Foras stáit é Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair a bunaíodh chun Réigiún an Iarthair a fhorbairt: Trína chinntiú go ndíreoidh polasaí an rialtais ar fheabhas a chur ar an saol eacnamaíochta agus sóísialta i Réigiún an Iarthair ó Dhún na nGall go Co. an Chláir. Tograí a fhorbairt ar bhonn réigiúnda i réimsí ar nós: turasóireacht, tionscal, muir, fuinneamh athnuaite, teicneolaíocht agus bia/talmhaíocht orgánach. Ciste Infheistíochta an Iarthair a bhainistiú chun iasachtaí agus maoiniú a chur a fáil do ghnónna agus do phobail áitiúla i Reigiun an Iarthair. Ar bhonn gnó a reachtáltar an Ciste seo agus rún againn a bheith timthrialach agus an t-airgead a athinfheistiú ar ais sa Réigiún. Cén fáth ar bunaíodh Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? D’fhulaing réigiún an iarthair (Dún na nGall, Sligeach, Liatroim, Ros Comáin, Maigh Eo, Gaillimh agus An Clár) titim thromábhal agus leanúnach sa daonra ar feadh na mblianta fada. Ba é toradh méid na titime seo, in éineacht le suíomh forimeallach an réigiúin agus drochbhonneagar, nár mealladh ach beagán infheistíochta chuig an réigiún. Mar gheall ar an easpa deiseanna fostaíochta agus ar an eisimirce forleathan d’éirigh éileamh poiblí go n-aisiompófaí meath réigiún an iarthair, dúshlán ollmhór tar éis na mblianta meatha. De dheasca an éilimh phoiblí agus méid an dúshláin bunaíodh Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair. Cad a thacaíonn le Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? Bhunaigh Rialtas na hÉireann Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair ar bhonn neamhreachtúil i 1997. Rinneadh comhlacht reachtúil de ar 1 Feabhra, 1999, i ndiaidh achtú Acht Choimisiún an Iarthair, 1998, ag Tithe an Oireachtais. Sainmhíníonn an tAcht seo ról Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair agus is iad a phríomhfheidhmeanna: - Forbairt eacnamaíoch agus sóisialta a chur chun cinn, a chothú agus a spreagadh i Réigiún an Iarthair (Dún na nGall, Liatroim, Sligeach, Maigh Eo, Ros Comáin, Gaillimh agus An Clár). - Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair a bhunú, a bhainistiú agus a stiúradh, ciste de €32m le hinfheistiú ar bhonn tráchtála i dtionscnaimh i Réigiún an Iarthair. Conas atá Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair eagraithe? Tá 12 chomhalta ar Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair (CFI) le Helen Rochford Brennan, Príomhoifigeach. Tá15 dhuine ar fhoireann an Choimisiúin, le Ian Brannigan mar Phríomhfheidhmeannach. Tá liosta iomlán de chomhaltaí agus d’fhoireann an Choimisiúin, chomh maith le sonraí faoin eagraíocht, ar fáil ar ár láithreán gréasáin www.wdc.ie Cad a dhéanann Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? Is gníomhaireacht reachtúil í Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair le fócas sainiúil ar Réigiún an Iarthair. Is aidhm thábhactach í a chinntiú go gcuirtear leasanna an Iarthair san áireamh i gcónaí ag na leibhéil is airde Rialtais. Cuireann an Coimisiún comhairle ar an Rialtas maidir le polasaithe a mbíonn tionchar acu ar an Réigiún agus bunaítear gach moladh ar mhionthaighde eacnamaíoch agus sóisialta. Bíonn páirt thábhachtach aige chomh maith i bhforbairt réigiúnda trí thionscnaimh straitéiseacha in earnálacha éagsúla ar nós na talmhaíochta agus na turasóireachta. Déanann sé bainistiú ar Chiste Forbartha an Iarthair (CFI), a bunaíodh chun “bearna mhaoinithe” a bhí ag cur isteach go dochrach ar ghrúpaí gnó agus pobail sa réigiún a líonadh. Ag baint úsáide as gréasáin de theagmhálacha i ranna stáit tábhachtacha, gníomhaireachtaí stáit agus grúpaí forbartha áitiúla agus pobail, cinntíonn an Coimisiún go mbíonn dlúthnascanna aige le heagraíochtaí ar an bhfód agus ag an am céanna go mbíonn tionchar aige ar pholasaí ag an leibhéal is airde. Cad í an difríocht idir Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair agus an BMW? Is gníomhaireacht stáit í Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair a bhíonn réamhghníomhach i dtaca le straitéisí forbartha réigiúnda do Réigiún an Iarthair a éascú agus a chomhordú, ag cur moltaí faoi bhráid an Rialtais maidir le polasaithe a chuireann forbairt chun cinn sa réigiún agus tá sé freagrach as Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair a fheidhmiú. Déanann an BMW, atá lonnaithe i mBealach an Doirín chomh maith, bainistiú ar an gClár Oibríochtúil don Teorainn, Lár-Tíre agus Iarthair faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2000-2006. Leagann Clár Oibríochtúil an BMW amach na cláir mhaoinithe a beartaíodh go sonrach le haghaidh an réigiúin BMW agus cuireann na gníomhaireachtaí éagsúla é i bhfeidhm ag an leibhéal náisiúnta agus ag an leibhéal áitiúil. Tá sé mar chúram ar Chomhthionól Réigiúnda an BMW an Clár Oibríochtúil a bhainistiú, tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar an dul chun a rinneadh, an measúnú ar an gClár a bhainistiú agus monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar éifeacht ghinearálta clár uile an AE faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. An dtig leat eiseamláirí a thabhairt ar obair forbartha agus pholasaí Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? Tá straitéisi forbartha cheana féin ag an gCoimisiún i roinnt réimsí ina bhfuil buntáiste ar leith ag Réigiún an Iarthair ar a n-áirítear turasóireacht tuaithe, táirgeadh bia orgánach talmhaíochta agus fuinneamh athnuachana. Mar shampla, d’éascaigh an Coimisiún cúrsaí do Thionscnamh Straitéiseach Orgánach an Iarthair, a thugann le chéile gréasán fuinniúil de ghrúpaí orgánacha chun taighde a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt an mhargadh bia orgánaigh, chomh maith le clár oiliúna agus comhairle agus láithreán gréasáin le haghaidh trádála agus chun eolas a scaipeadh. Díríodh cuid mhaith dár obair pholasaí ar bhonneagar, ar nós bóithre, teileachumarsáidí, fuinnimh seirbhísí aeir agus bhóthar iarainn. I 2001 d’fhoilsigh an Coimisiún anailís chuimsitheach ar Réigiún an Iarthair, The State of the West: Recent Trends and Future Prospects. Chuir an anailís seo ar chumas an Choimisiúin moltaí a dhéanamh chuig an Rialtas faoi na hathruithe a bhí ag teastáil chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an mbearna a bhí ag fás idir Réigiún an Iarthair agus an chuid eile den tír. Tá na foilseacháin go léir ar fáil ar ár láithreán gréasáin www.wdc.ie Cén acmhainní atá ag Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? Tá buiséad oibríochtúil ag an gCoimisiún chun a chuid obair pholasaí agus a chuid tionscnamh forbartha réigiúnda a dhéanamh agus chun Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair a bhainistiú. Tá an €32m i gCiste Forbartha an Iarthair in áirithe go hiomlán le haghaidh infheistíochta i dtionscadail thráchtála agus déantar gach toradh ar na hinfheistíochtaí a athshuncáil sa chiste ar mhaithe le Réigiún an Iarthair amach anseo. An dtugann an Coimisiún cabhair deontais? Ní thugann. Cén cineál tionscadal a ndéanann Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair infheistíocht iontu? Tríd is tríd tá Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair roinnte i dtrí chiste: - Ciste Chaipiteal Fhiontar Gnó a chuireann iasachtaí agus scairchaipiteal ar fáil do fhiontair ardfháis. Maoiníodh tionscadail cheana féin i réimsí cosúil le biththeicneolaíocht, gairis leighis, bonneagar turasóireachta agus forbairt bogearraí. - An Ciste Forbartha Straitéiseach a dhírionn ar thionscadail mór le rá agus ar thionscnaimh a mbeadh tionchar ollmhór acu ar an réigiun, ar nós Aerfort an Chnoic. - An Ciste Infheistiochta Áitiúil a chuireann iasachtaí ar fáil do ghrúpaí fhiontar pobail agus a rinne infheistíocht i dtionscadail ó áit shúgartha do pháistí go comhlacht a chuireann seirbhísí baile ar fáil do dhaoine scothaosta agus do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas, tionscadal shaol-uisce agus ionad fhiontar pobail. Conas a dhéanann Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair forbairt ar thionscnaimh agus conas a oibríonn sé le comhlachtaí forbartha eile sa réigiún? Déantar tionscnaimh a fhorbairt trí dheiseanna nua a imscrúdú agus trí straitéisí réigiúnda a fhorbairt. Déantar straitéisí a fhorbairt i gcomhpháirtíocht leis na gníomhaireachtaí a chuireann iad i gcrích agus leis an earnáil phríobháideach chun sochar a bhaint as deiseanna ar bhonn réigiúnda. Ní gníomhaireacht í Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair a chuireann tionscadail i gcrích agus bíonn sé ag brath ar an bpobal agus ar an earnáil phríobháideach chun tionscadail a chur i gcrich agus chun go leanfaí leo. Mar shampla, d’fhoilsigh an Coimisiún tuarascáil chuimsitheach Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism Development in the West agus tá straitéis á stiúradh aige anois bunaithe ar an taighde ar a ngairtear Clár Forbartha Turasóireachta an Iarthair. Tá coiste stiúrtha an CFTI faoi chathaoirleacht Fáilte Éireann agus tá comhaltaí ann ó na gníomhaireachtaí iomchuí cosúil le na húdaráis turasóireachta réigiúnda, LEADER, Institiúid Theicneolaíochta Shligigh, ITIC, agus Údarás na Gaeltachta chomh maith leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta. An mbíonn dúbailt ann idir Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair agus obair gníomhaireachtaí eile? Ní bhíonn. Níl aon ghníomhaireacht eile ann leis an sainordú chun straitéisí ag an leibhéal réigiúnda laistigh de Réigiún an Iarthair a fhorbairt agus a éascú go réamhghníomhach. Níl aon ghníomhaireacht eile ann atá ainmnithe ag an Rialtas chun moltaí a chur faoina mbráid maidir le hathruithe polasaí atá iomchuí do Réigiún an Iarthair. Níl aon ghníomhaireacht eile ann a bhfuil údarás aige chun infheistíocht a dhéanamh ar an dóigh chéanna le Ciste Forbartha an Iarthair, ciste nach bhfuil ar fáil ach do thionscadail laistigh de Réigiún an Iarthair. Conas is féidir liom a bheith ar an eolas cothrom le dáta faoi Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair? I dteannta a chuid foilseachán tábhachtach, foilsíonn an Coimisiún tuarascáil bhliantúil gach bliain agus nuachtlitreacha go rialta. Tá cóipeanna de na foilseacháin seo ar fáil ónár n-oifigí i mBealach an Doirín agus tá siad ar fáil ar ár láithreán gréasáin www.wdc.ie