Kerry County Councillors agreed at their monthly meeting on Monday to submit without a vote three motions in support of the continuation of Partnerships in their current format to Minister Phil Hogan in the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government.
The motions in support of the partnerships, by Cllrs. Toireasa Ferris, Johnny Healy Rae and Matt Griffin, came in the wake of a major public meeting organised by Community Groups in South Kerry that called on the councillors to highlight their support for partnerships and to support their continuation in the current format. (for further information on that meeting please click on this link)
Under proposals from Minister Phil Hogan, new Socio Economic Committees would be formed and the proposed new RDP (LEADER) Programme would be brought in under the control of the County Councils. This move would effectively result in closure of Partnerships given that the vital source of core multi annual administration funding that LEADER provides would be removed. Local community groups also see this as a move to take away the input and direction they provide in relation to how rural development funding is allocated and spent in their areas. They feel this will lead to the further isolation and neglect of rural areas which are already under serious economic and social pressures.
Most Councillors at the meeting spoke in favour of the retention of the partnerships and a number of them left the meeting sighting conflict of interest. Given the overall support in the chamber, the motions did not go to a vote.
