Following the Launch today of the “Castletownbere – An Economic Survey to Determine the Level of Seafood Activity and Establish its Economic Importance for the Region” Report by Minister Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, it was announced that a Stakeholder Group had been created to deliver on the potential identified in the Report for additional jobs to be created in the Castletownbere area.
Speaking on behalf of the Group, Ms. Eibhlín O’Sullivan, CEO of the Irish South and West Producers Organisation Ltd. stated “although Castletownbere has a very active and progressive Community Development Association and Tourism Association the need for a small Stakeholder Group to specifically address the overall economic development of the Town was identified as being necessary to drive the production of a jobs strategy for the Castletownbere area”.
“The Group comprises of key members of the various Local Industries together with Representatives from Development Agencies and, of course, the Fishery Harbour Centre”. Ms. O’Sullivan continued “the Group has already identified a number of short-term Pilot Projects which should create additional employment in the area before the end of the year and is also working on both a medium and long-term Strategy. We hope to make a further announcement in the near future in relation to these initial Pilot Projects.”
Notes: The “Castletownbere – An Economic Survey to Determine the Level of Seafood Activity and Establish its Economic Importance for the Region” was commissioned by Minister Simon Coveney in July of 2011 and was produced by BIM in partnership with the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation Ltd. with Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management employed as Consultants. A copy of the Report can be obtained from the BIM website www.bim.ie