Introduction by County Mananger

Sligo County Council had another challenging and productive year in 2008, with a range of major projects planned and delivered across all the major service areas. Our ongoing objective is to deliver a quality, customer-focused service, and at a strategic level to capitalise on Sligo’s designation as a ‘Gateway’ under the National Spatial Strategy. This Strategy is aimed at accelerating the development of gateway cities, and will be the core determinant of economic prosperity in the country. From a local and regional perspective, it is important that we continue to work in partnership with other agencies to attract sustainable investment and jobs to the Sligo area.

 
Hubert Kearns, Sligo County Manager

This partnership approach can be the catalyst for the continued development and growth of our county and will enable us to provide key infrastructure and high quality cultural and recreational facilities. Local communities have been greatly energised in recent years, and in many instances our role has evolved to being in effect facilitators to work alongside ambitious and committed local organisations and agencies.

One of our main responsibilities as a Local Authority is to plan and deliver high quality transport and service infrastructure to meet future demands of the commercial and private sector. The changing economic environment presents formidable challenges to all Local Authorities, and there is an onus on all of us to apply scare resources prudently.

County Sligo is known and regarded world-wide for its rich cultural and literary tradition, and in this context I expect the development of cultural facilities to be a critical factor in boosting Sligo’s reputation as a cultural and tourism destination.

Hubert Kearns
County Manager