The Cork County Development Board was established in March of 2000. This was in response to the recommendations of a government task force, chaired by the Minister for Environment and Local Government, which addressed the integration of local government and development systems.
The task force recognised that a major difficulty in the planning and delivery of public services locally was the lack of a single template to guide the various agencies providing those services. It recommended the establishment of a Development Board in each county to address this problem. The county and city development boards have broad sectoral representation.
Cork County Development Board consists of 41 members from the following sectors:
- Local government
- Local development
- State agencies
- Social partners
- Environmental Pillar
The Board adopted its 'Integrated Strategy' for the social, cultural and economic development of Cork County for 2002 to 2011 in March 2002. This strategy provides the following:
- A framework for the various organisations providing public services in the county.
- A clear vision on where the county should be by 2011 and how these goals and objectives should be achieved.
The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government engaged Indecon to review the CDB strategies and bring forward proposals to strengthen and develop the Boards in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 and the National Development Plan 2007-2013. A National Co-ordinating Group has been established and includes senior representatives from a wide range of government departments.
Following the local elections the Board and its membership was re-constituted and an additional representative from the Environmental Pillar was added. The Board has completed its review of its strategy which will run for the period 2009-2012. This involved a wide ranging consultative process with the different sectors and 10 priority areas were agreed to be implemented within the three-year period. These involve both national and local priority areas, some of which are ongoing and others which are just being established.
- Islands
- Developing Areas
- Environment/Climate Change
- Traveller Inter-Agency Group
- Economic Development
- Social Inclusion Measures
- Community & Voluntary Forum
- Joint Policing Committee
- Comhairle na nÓg / County Youth Council
- Mitchelstown Pilot Project
The County Development Board is supported in its work by the Office of Community and Enterprise, Cork County Council.
