Community groups need assistance

CERTAIN PARTS of the county are struggling when it comes to community development according to one county councillor.

Cllr Malcolm Byrne commended the work of the Community and Enterprise section of Wexford Co Council saying it did a good job. But he noted that there were still high levels of deprivation in some places and he felt a targeted approach was needed for these areas where there was little to no improvement.

‘ The county is doing a lot better but there are places that are suffering and some interventions are not working.’

Director of Services John Carley said that some areas needed more work and he had asked the Local Community Development Committee for a report on where improvements could be made.

Council CEO Tom Enright added that sometimes community groups did not know how to access funding, remarking that they wanted to encouarge leaders in these areas and hopefully address some of the issues.

Cllr Michael Sheehan believed that a countywide ‘ health check’ was needed for community groups, adding that the old RAPID programmes should also be reactivated.