Radical review is urged of Shannon Development role

A radical review of Shannon Development's operations has been urged in the mid-west region in the wake of the resignation of only the third chief executive since Shannon Development was established in 1959.

"A root-and-branch review is needed, and with the recent departure of Paul Sheane it is an opportune time for that to take place," according to Shannon-based Independent member of Clare County Council, Ms Patricia McCarthy.

Ms McCarthy is supported by Fine Gael TD Mr Michael Noonan, who says a full assessment of the organisation's operations should be carried out, adding it was very important that a new chief executive be appointed as soon as possible.

The editor of the Limerick Leader, Mr Brendan Halligan, argues: "It is now up to the leadership of the company to come up with a clear vision of where the company is going - otherwise its days could be numbered."

The brief of Shannon Development, the State's only dedicated regional development company, is to nurture industry, tourism and rural development in Clare, Limerick, north Tipperary, south Offaly and north Kerry, where there is a population of more than 407,000. However, Ms McCarthy says the company has lost its focus in recent years. "Their role has been badly diluted from what it once was. It now needs a specific brief, because it is now involved in a bit of everything across a number of sectors with other bodies and this needs to change."

Ms McCarthy also says Shannon Development cannot continue to be a non-democratic organisation with no public representatives on its board. She adds that there are very good people working within Shannon Development, but that their talents are not being fully utilised. A long-time commentator on affairs at Shannon, Mr Dermot Walsh, says Shannon Development, having been stripped of responsibility in a number of areas over a period of time, is in search of a role and has lost touch with the region.

Mr Walsh, who worked for the company between 1971 and 1979, says that where the company does have responsibility - in promoting tourism - this high-profile task has been beset with problems. He cites a fall in the overall tourism market share in the mid-west.

Acknowledging the success the company has made of its substantial property portfolio under Mr Sheane, Mr Walsh says that in order to reclaim a national role, Shannon Development should be identified by Government to spearhead a national drive in regional development, where it can act as a pathfinder for other regions.

Mr Halligan says the body is less relevant than it once was, stating that, "In the 1960s and 70s, the company had a pioneering role in industry and tourism, but what the leadership should ask themselves today is, `Why are we here?' ". He states that unless Shannon Development "gets its act together, it risks going out of business". He added: "It is hard to make a case today why any region in the country should have such a body when the IDA, Bord Failte and private enterprise are doing the job they are doing."