largersmallerreset

About

Maidir Linn

Our Vision

‘A confident and ambitious Western Region where excellence, innovation and creativity are rewarded, and the rich quality of life, clean environment and unique heritage are valued and safeguarded.’

Ár bhFís

‘Réigiún an Iarthair muiníneach agus uaillmhianach, ina gcuirtear luach saothair ar fáil as ucht na sármhaitheasa, na nuálaíochta agus na cruthaitheachta, agus go mbíonn tuiscint agus cosaint ann do cháilíocht shaibhir beatha, timpeallacht ghlan agus oidhreacht shainiúil.’

Introducing the WDC …

The Western Development Commission (WDC) is a statutory body that was set up to promote both social and economic development in the Western Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare) by:

  • Ensuring that government policy is directed at improving the social and economic situation in the region.
  • Developing projects in tourism, industry, marine, renewable energy, technology and organic agri-food, and so on.
  • Operating the €32 million Western Investment Fund (WIF) to provide loans and equity to business and local communities in the West. 

Réamhléiriú ar Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair …

Is comhlacht reachtúil é Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair (CFI) a bunaíodh chun forbairt shóisialta agus forbairt gheilleagrach a chur chun cinn i Réigiún an Iarthair (Dún na nGall, Liatroim, Sligeach, Maigh Eo, Ros Comáin, Gaillimh agus an Clár):

  • Trí a chinntiú go bhfuil sé mar chuspóir ag beartas an rialtais feabhas a chur ar staid shóisialta agus gheilleagrach an réigiúin.
  • Trí thionscadail a fhorbairt sa turasóireacht, tionsclaíocht, ábhair mhuirí, fuinneamh in-athnuaite, teicneolaíocht, agraibhia orgánach agus araile.    
  • Trí Chiste Infheistíochta an Iarthair (CII), ciste €32 mhilliún, a oibriú chun iasachtaí agus cothromas a chur ar fáil do ghnóthais agus do phobail áitiúla san Iarthar.

A unique role

The WDC plays a unique role in the Western Region:

  • We are the only agency with the remit to develop and facilitate proactively strategies at the regional level.
  • We are the only agency commissioned by government to put proposals to them on policy changes appropriate to the West.
  • We are the only agency with approval to invest in local businesses as we do with the Western Investment Fund (WIF), which is only available to projects within the Western Region.

Small, flexible and regionally focused, the WDC can collaborate with all sectors (public, private and voluntary) and find ways around organisational boundaries. The organisation’s strong ethos of sharing intellectual and other resources means it is well placed to help achieve common good within the West.

Ról sainiúil

Tá ról sainiúil ag CFI i Réigiún an Iarthair:

  • Is é CFI an t-aon ghníomhaireacht amháin atá freagrach as straitéisí a fhorbairt agus a éascú go réamhghníomhach, ar leibhéal réigiúnach.
  • Is é CFI an t-aon ghníomhaireacht amháin atá údaraithe ag an rialtas chun tograí a chur faoina bhráid ar athruithe beartais a bheadh oiriúnach don Iarthar.
  • Is é CFI an t-aon ghníomhaireacht amháin le cead aici infheistiú i ngnóthais áitiúla, mar a dhéantar le Ciste Infheistíochta an Iarthair (CII), ciste nach gcuirtear ar fáil ach amháin le haghaidh tionscadal i Réigiún an Iarthair.

Is gníomhaireacht bheag agus sholúbtha í CFI, atá dírithe ar an réigiún, ar féidir léi dul i gcomhar leis na hearnálacha go léir (poiblí, príobháideach agus deonach) agus teorainneacha eagraíochtúla a shárú. Tá éiteas láidir ag an eagraíocht maidir le hacmhainní intleachtúla agus acmhainní eile a chomhroinnt, agus ciallaíonn sé seo go bhfuil sí san áit is fearr di chun cabhrú le leas coiteann a bhaint amach san Iarthar.

An essential role

The WDC:

  • Plays a key role in regional development – through strategic initiatives in various sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
  • Advises government on policies affecting the region (all proposals are based on comprehensive economic and social research).
  • Ensures that government policy is directed at improving the social and economic situation in the Western Region and that the interests of the West are always considered at the highest levels of government.
  • Manages the Western Investment Fund (WIF), established to fill a ‘funding gap’ adversely affecting businesses and community groups in the region.
  • Develops projects on a regional basis in sectors such as tourism, industry, marine, renewable energy, technology and organic agri-food. 

Ról riachtanach

  • Tá eochair ról ag CFI i bhforbairt réigiúnach – trí thionscnaimh straitéiseacha in earnálacha éagsúla, mar an talmhaíocht agus an turasóireacht.  
  • Cuireann CFI comhairle ar fáil don rialtas ar na beartais a théann i bhfeidhm ar an réigiún (tá na tograí go léir bunaithe ar thaighde cuimsitheach geilleagrach agus sóisialta).
  • Cinntíonn CFI go bhfuil sé mar chuspóir ag beartas an rialtais feabhas a chur ar staid shóisialta agus gheilleagrach Réigiún an Iarthair agus go ndéantar trácht i gcónaí ar leasanna an Iarthair ag an leibhéal is airde sa rialtas.  
  •  Déanann CFI Ciste Infheistíochta an Iarthair (CII) a stiúradh, ciste a bunaíodh chun ‘bearna cistiúcháin’ a líonadh a dhéanann dochar do ghnóthais agus do ghrúpaí pobail sa réigiún.
  • Déanann CFI tionscadail a fhorbairt ar bhonn réigiúnach in earnálacha mar turasóireacht, tionsclaíocht, ábhair mhuirí, fuinneamh in-athnuaite, teicneolaíocht agus agraibhia orgánach.

Recent News

  • The Western Development Commission (WDC) has announced its support for the Féile Icarus business planning workshops which will be held in Connemara on the 27th and 28th August 2010. The full-day workshops will provide a supportive platform for entrepreneurs, start-ups, innovators and creatives to identify their strategic challenges and devise practical ways to unlock their [...]

    Read More...
  • A successful networking event to promote the Western Region to key London-Irish business people was recently held by the Sligo Business Network in London (SBN), supported by the Western Development Commission (WDC).
    The event was attended by people originally from Sligo who have made London their business base, and the evening focussed on WDC’s continuing work [...]

    Read More...
  • The resources of less developed regions are not being utilised fully.  But mobilising these resources and the unfulfilled potential in regions such as the Western Region, will add to overall national economic growth.  It is a waste of talent and opportunity if the full potential of all regions is not realised.  That’s according to Why [...]

    Read More...