Government is letting down the west – McGuinness

RESIGNATION Paddy McGuinness, pictured here welcoming CEO Ray McGreal to the Western Development Commission in 2013, has now stepped down from his role as Chairperson of the organisation.

Edwin McGreal

The lack of government commitment to the west is among the reasons cited for the resignation of Paddy McGuinness as Chairperson of the Western Development Commission.
Based in Ballaghaderreen, the WDC is a statutory body set up to promote ‘social and economic development’ across the seven counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare.
 “I believe strongly that there is absolutely no commitment at either political or administrative level to balanced regional development, nor is there any worthwhile plan to address rural decline,” said Mr McGuinness.
Such a statement will be seen as a body blow to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who is a friend of Mr McGuinness’s and who appointed him to the position in late 2012. McGuinness, a native of Monaghan, is a businessman in Castlebar and a former Fine Gael county councillor.
He is a well-known activist who played the leading role in bringing GMIT to Castlebar in the mid 1990s.
He announced the shock news yesterday (Monday) evening and detailed his reasons in a letter to the Acting CEO of the Commission, Mr Ian Brannigan, a letter he also circulated to every member of the Oireachtas. He told Mr Brannigan he asked Minister of State Michael Ring not to consider him for reappointment.
“My experience over the past four years has convinced me that the WDC’s potential to initiate and deliver progress within its region is neither understood nor supported. For example, the only contacts with me from the parent Department were on matters relating to governance … never an engagement on what the organisation was doing or whether it could achieve more,” he said.

‘Lack of interest’
He cited five particular examples which he says demonstrate ‘the lack of interest in the commission’s work’ from politicians and Department officials:
“The commission was left without a board for over three months in 2014 and presently does not have a board since February 20 this year.
“The position of CEO is vacant for almost three years despite the board’s efforts to have it filled.
“An allocation of €2 million in 2015 to develop a pilot Strategic Regional Development Office was appropriated (possibly mistakenly) as capital expenditure.  The proposal did not need and could not use capital expenditure.  Yet over 18 months of representations has failed to have the funds transferred to current expenditure.  As a result, no progress has been made on an exciting initiative.
“The present Programme for Government contains a line committing ‘an enhanced role for the Western Development Commission’.  In spite of persistent enquiries at political and administrative levels, the board has not been told what exactly the ‘enhanced role’ means or involves.
“The proposed Atlantic Economic Corridor could easily have been led by the WDC.  Instead, there has been a delay of at least six months’ work on the project through setting up yet another organisation to progress the proposal.”
Mr McGuinness praised the work the Western Development Commission has done.
“I have huge regard for the commitment and professionalism of all of the staff and the exceptional leadership you (Ian Brannigan) have provided.  There is no doubt that the WDC is an excellent organisation with an enviable record of achievement in spite of Government failure to appreciate, support or challenge its full potential. I wish you all and the incoming board good luck with your endeavours in the coming years,” he said.