As chairman of the Western Division of Cork County Council I am delighted to report that we have now completed my proposal of taking a meeting of this committee to the Islands of "Bere/Sherkin/& Cape". This is the first time in the history of the council that any of these meeting's have been held outside of Clonakilty. They provided us with the oppurtunity to meet with Islanders, to visit each Island, and to get a better understanding of the issues which affect those living off shore. We must now work twoards the completion of the resulting agenda.

NEWS FROM ISLAND INTERAGENCY GROUP

Having attented the maeeting on Thursday 14th January 2010 at the Maritime Hotel in Bantry, a very positive outcome for the seven islad's off the west Cork coast was the formation of the new working group who will collate the views of individuals on all Island's which in turn will assist in developing a local strategy. This group is chaired by John walsh from Bere Island and includes Michael O Ceadagain from Cape Clear and Dan Reilly from Sherkin. The trio will hold a series of community meetings in conjunction with local development groups between March 8th & 11th . Contact numbvers 086-3877943 John Walsh [Whiddy,Bere,Dursey] 087-2988098 Dan Reilly {Heir,Sherkin,Long] 086-8123779 Michael O Ceadagain [Cape Clear]. I am delighted to be part of this agency group and we will be actively working twords a new approach to developing the islands, in order to reverse the depopulation and decline which has had such a detremental effect over the past number of years. Theresa White our county councils manager for West Cork is taking a very proactive approch to the work of the agency and has stated that" superimposing mainland modles on islands was not the answer" . I look forward to working with everyone to achieve our goals. Anybody who wishes to have an input can contact the trio aforementioned, myself, or Cork County coucil staff member Ms Breeda Murphy who is co-ordinator 021- 4285526 ........................Posted 24 02 2010

BERE ISLAND

At our last committee meeting in Skibbereen 1/2/10 it was unamiously decided to write to the minister to get the currently imposed ban on recruitment lifted and a special case be made to allow the two council workers vacant on the Island be filled on a permanent basis. We await his response and committment to Island communities ............Posted 24 02 2010