Mr. Pat Dowling
Cllr. Michael Begley cathaoirleach
Chief Executive
InTRoDucTIon by The cAThAoIRleAch AnD chIeF execuTIve During 2018, Clare County Council successfully managed to deliver a number of significant and important projects in the areas of transport, housing, community and enterprise. This was made possible through the hard work and dedication of Elected Members and the Executive and Staff of Clare County Council.
We are delighted to welcome the 2018 Annual Report which provides an opportunity to showcase the services provided by Clare County Council during the year, as well as some of the new and innovative actions taken across a wide range of activities. Clare County Council has responsibility for a population of over 118,000 people, with an annual budget of €118m for day-to-day spending plus a further €110m (over 3 years) in capital. The Local Authority employs 854 staff delivering an extraordinarily wide range of services from maintaining local roads to building the local economy and from providing recreation and amenity facilities to being responsible for one of Ireland’s main visitor attractions at the Cliffs of Moher, which attracted more than 1.6m visitors from all over the world in 2018.
In the area of Economic Development, Clare County Council working in partnership with the University of Limerick progressed a proposal to explore opportunities for a significant ‘SDZ/Enterprise hub’ development centred on a green field site adjacent to the planned Limerick Northern Distributor Road known as the “University Hinterland” in Clare. In addition, Clare County Council began extensive consultations on the Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy, a long-term plan aimed at informing and driving the economic, social and physical development of Ennis as an investment location and place to live.
The Council with its range of responsibilities impacts on the lives of every person in Clare and is continuously endeavouring to improve its services and responsibilities for the benefit of those who live and work in Clare.
Last year was a particularly strong year for the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Clare. In 2018, LEO
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