Monaghan’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021 launched
Committed to the betterment of County Monaghan
‘One of the most important publications produced by Monaghan County Council’ was the Cathaoirleach Councillor PJ O’Hanlon’s description of Monaghan’s Local Economic and Community Plan, which was launched in The Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan on Tuesday 5th July.
The Plan was formally jointly launched by the Chair of Monaghan’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Emer Brennan and Chair of Monaghan County Council’s Strategic Policy Committee on Economic Development & Enterprise Support, Councillor Pat Treanor. The attendance included Monaghan County Council Chief Executive Eamonn O’Sullivan, Councillors and members of the Oireachtas, and representatives of local community, enterprise and business interests.
In his address, Councillor O’Hanlon said that ‘The recent reforms in Local Government have devolved a number of areas to local authorities, including the promotion of economic development and the promotion of local and community development. Within the context of those reforms, the launch of this plan marks a key milestone in Local Government in Co Monaghan, and in particular of the Local Community Development Committee and the Strategic Policy Committee for Economic Development & Enterprise Support. On a local level it ties in with our County Development Plan, and it is consistent with the aims and policies of Monaghan County Council to promote Monaghan and make it an attractive and vibrant place for residents and visitors alike.
The culmination of the work of these two committees in addressing both the Community and Economic elements of this Plan has combined into one strategic vision which sets a roadmap to improve the wellbeing of the people and the economy of the county as a whole though better targeting and co-ordination of resources and more meaningful results for local communities.
The process of preparing the LECP has involved extensive consultation with all stakeholders who share our commitment to the betterment of Co Monaghan. This document identifies specific, key actions across a wide range of economic and community activity; it sets out realistic goals and how they can be achieved.
The plan charts a framework for the development of Monaghan as a social, cultural and economic hub for the region. The overarching vision for the county through this plan is that County Monaghan will be an enterprising, inclusive, resilient and environmentally sustainable place which values and celebrates its unique landscape and rich culture and heritage and where the well being of future generations is central to everything we do. The renowned entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the county will be fostered and promoted to improve the life chances of those of the current and future generations.
No single agency can implement this plan working alone. The means to our success must be by working together, by pooling our resources we can apply much more leverage than by acting alone.
There is no doubt that the delivery of this Plan will be a challenge to all of those that have signed up to it. There is a particular onus on the statutory agencies, Monaghan County Council, including the Local Enterprise Office, the HSE, the Department of Social Protection and Cavan Monaghan Education Training Board. Without their commitment this vision cannot succeed. There is also a significant focus on non statutory groups and organisations to play a full role in the implementation of this Plan. For example, the roles of Monaghan Integrated Development Limited and the Monaghan Public Participation Network will also be crucial in how this Plan succeeds.
There are a number of current and future projects and programmes that have been factored into the expectation for the delivery of this Plan. Among those are the new Leader Programme to be launched later this week, the Peace IV Programme, the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme, (SICAP), the Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) programme. These programmes, which will also operate through the LCDC, will have a significant impact in County Monaghan in the short to medium term.
The Plan which is a cornerstone of strategic planning for the county will be reviewed before the end of 2018. We want to report at the midterm review that we have made significant progress in the delivery of this Plan in respect of improved employment prospects, promotion of sustainable economic activity, enhanced Education and Training opportunities, Health and wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Environment, community development and not least on collaborative working. While the Council will assume a leadership role in the monitoring and delivery of the Plan, the principle of partnership will be the key element under-pinning our activities.
Councillor O’Hanlon finished by thanking everyone who participated in the production of this Plan, including the communities, the PPN the statutory and non statutory organisations and not least the staff of Monaghan County Council for their work over the past 18 months to two years in getting the plan to this stage. “It has been a long road but we have a good bit to go yet in ensuring its delivery for the betterment of County Monaghan”
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