Town and Village Enhancement (F0401

supporting the Council’s statutory plans which include the Ennis 2040 strategy, the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) and the Rural Development Plan in addition to the wider economic development of County Clare.

Third Level Education

The Economic Development Directorate’s collaboration with Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) has culminated in the opening of a permanent campus for LIT in the centre of Ennis in 2019. This will greatly enhance the educational and learning opportunities for Ennis and bring economic activity back into a building in the historic core of Ennis, which has been vacant for over 10 years.

Further collaboration with other institutes for the provision of a knowledge and innovation based economy for the County and the Region will be positively pursued in 2020.

Atlantic Economic Corridor

The Council is actively involved in promoting the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) concept which aims to identify and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for those who live on the western seaboard. The Council’s AEC officer has worked with the Enterprise Task Force of the AEC and by the end of 2019, Enterprise space audits will be completed for a number of towns in the County. This allows us to have firsthand knowledge of possible property solutions for any business opportunities as they arise.

Town and Village Enhancement (F0401)

In 2019 a number of Ennis 2040 Economic Strategy strategic sites will be identified and master planned. The Ennis 2040 strategic site assembly will then be commenced.

A Shannon town economic and spatial master plan will be prepared in consultation with the public, the MD elected members, and the town centre owners and businesses. Subject to the outcome of future URDF funding applications, the Council will be supporting amongst others: The Venue – civic, arts and cultural development in Shannon.

In 2020 Cappa Pier Enhancement Strategy will be completed. The aim of this strategy is to enhance Cappa by sensitively developing its distinct maritime village character, to increase visitor footfall to the amenities of Cappa thus enhancing its vitality, to ensure that any new developments are of a village scale and form and enhance the character of Cappa, to open up sea views and enhance the amenity and sense of arrival at the village while enhance accessibility to the beach and water for recreation.