REVEALED: 10-YEAR COUNCIL PROJECT
A FRAMEWORK to guide the development of Sligo for the next eight to 10 years is being put together by Sligo County Council working in partnership with a number of key groups and the community.
The plan, entitled ‘Sligo 2030 One Voice One Vision’ will act as an integrated multi-sectoral local economic & community plan. In a statement, the council said that public input will be essential to the success of the plan. In partnership with the Local Community Development Committee, the Strategic Policy Committee for Planning, Community & Economic Development, the Sligo
Economic Forum and the community, the plan is based on the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an ambition for a smart, green and inclusive Sligo.
The Sligo Local Community Development Committee is a key structure in developing the Local Economic & Community Plan for Sligo and in co-ordinating and implementing an integrated approach to local and community development.
The committee is made up of representatives from local government and local development sectors, public bodies and representatives of social, economic, environmental, and community interests. The role and voice of the community is very valuable and necessary in the process either via the Public Participation Network or individually from members of the public.
The Sligo Economic Forum represents the public and private business and industry stakeholders who have a common objective to prepare Sligo for the economic challenges of the future in a technology and innovation-driven world and to nurture and lead the economic development of the county.
The presence of strong employment sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry, engineering companies, higher education institutes, cultural institutions and health services indicate Sligo’s substantial capacity to enhance its regional role.
Chair of the Forum Aaron Forde, pictured left, said at the launch of Sligo 2030 that Sligo is located in a “Region in Transition” as designated by the
European Commission and, as such, a policy of positive discrimination is required to accelerate growth and stem decline in the north, west and border counties.
Deputy chief executive Tom Kilfeather said that the ambition of ‘Sligo 2030 Once Voice One Vision’ is to place County Sligo at the forefront of smart technology utilisation, capitalising on its benefits to enable successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action agenda, sustainable economic activity in Sligo and the North West region, improve social inclusion and create an environment which is an attractive place in which to live and work.
Cllr Dara Mulvey, cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, said that the National Planning Framework which recognises Sligo as a Regional Growth Centre should be the springboard to
place Sligo at the accessible centre of employment and services, which can act as a focal point for investment and have the widest possible regional influence, capable of leading the development of the surrounding region. The objective is to develop Sligo into a smart, inclusive city and county, with the aim of realising energy efficient neighbourhoods, clean mobility and integration of current infrastructures.
This will be achieved by working collaboratively with businesses, knowledge institutions and citizens while capitalising on the potential of ICT, and the capability of using data analytics from smart technology to provide the information and processes which will enable the ongoing improvement of all aspects of Sligo city and county for the benefit of its citizens.