This article is from page 23 of the 2011-01-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
MAINTAINING essential services and protecting the county boundary are among the key issues facing Clare in 2011.
That is according to the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) who also believes that local authorities must become more accessible and accountable to the people they serve.
Commenting in light of recent problems caused to the county’s water supply and road network, Cllr Curtin said,
“I think we need to have a look at the whole thing, at how we provide these services and how we respond in crisis situations. We must learn. These are priority services, where people are concerned, particularly water.”
He added, “I also want to see the county left intact, the integrity of the county protected fully as a far as the boundary is concerned. I’d like to see no extension of the Limerick boundary and the boundaries as they are should be left intact.
The Miltown Malbay native, who is serving his first ever term as Mayor, says that Clare County Council should also work more closely with the volountary sector.
He explained, “I’d like to see the infrastructure of the county improved but the constraints on public finances are going to make that difficult. We have to perform up to the par for the people in the county particularly in relation to the delivery of services. That’s an important thing and that we are seen to be relevant to people. I’d like to see every opportunity tapped to try and increase employment in the county and it is encouraged in every way. I’d like to see a greater involvement and partnership in place between volountary bodies and statutory bodies. It was never more relevant, especially with limited finances, that we tap into whatever strengths we have and we work together to have a better county as a result.”
Cllr Curtin said that it was also important that negative perceptions of the council are challenged.
“I still think people have respect for the council but to readily identify with it, is a difficult thing sometimes. Bureaucracy can be cumbersome and it makes it very difficult for people to access it. Accessibility must be increased at all times at all stages and at all levels”
Cllr Curtin added, “Some of it is out of our hands but some of it we can do ourselves. We must always endeavor to achieve maximum efficiency, through work practices etc… We have to get full value for money and we have to be seen to enhance our position with the volountary sector. The council has to be fully accessible and there has to be full accountability. I want people to be able to associate with the council.”