We work with local, regional and national bodies to optimise economic and social development in our region by:

• Identifying and implementing strategic development initiatives to grow regional businesses and opportunities through innovative enterprise pilots. Also by  facilitating their sustainable implementation by other relevant organisations in the longer term.

Achievements

The WDC has developed with partners unique and innovative programmes that have made a huge difference to the region. Examples include:

LookWest.ie

An innovative platform for informing and showcasing the unique quality of life and other advantages the West can offer to both individuals and businesses. By 2009 there had been almost half a million visits to the site. www.lookwest.ie

Renewable Energy Biomass Programme

In December 2008 the WDC was awarded European Union funding to develop a partnership to stimulate growth in the renewable biomass sector. The aim of this programme is to increase the regional wood heat sector threefold and develop the marine biomass sector accordingly. The forecasted regional benefits for wood heat alone are almost 1000 extra jobs, €15 million per annum in GVA and the elimination of 692,000 tonnes of CO2 (the equivalent of approximately 92,000 less cars on the road every year). The WDC has also been involved in assisting in the development of wind-energy projects throughout the region.

The WDC has continued its involvement in assisting to develop the bioenergy industry in the Western Region.  The WDC was lead partner on two EU-funded Northern Periphery Programme biomass projects RASLRES, www.raslres.eu and BioPAD www.biopad.eu.

RASLRES was a €2.88m EU funded project which is growing the commercialisation capability of the wood biomass sector in the region. Under the RASLRES programme, a transnational initiative is being implemented to pilot and assess the provision of marine biomass as a suitable feedstock for bio-ethanol and bio-gas.

BioPADs main aim was to promote the use of bioenergy.  Bioenergy brings local jobs, benefits local businesses, helps local economies and replaces imported fuels so it provides important opportunities for rural and remote areas.  BioPAD is a two year project (Nov 2012 – Sept 2014) working to ensure that we increase bioenergy use, and that we do it in a way that makes the most of the opportunities it brings to local economies and communities.   Other partners in the project included Action Renewables (Northern Ireland), Environmental Research Institute (Scotland) and Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla (Finland).

The WDC is also a partner in the FP7 European Commission project ROKWOOD (European regions fostering innovation for sustainable production and efficient use of woody biomass) www.rokwood.eu.  This is a three year project (Dec 2012 – Dec 2015) with six European regional triple helix clusters .  ROKWOOD has a budget of €1.97m and aims to improve the market conditions and policy framework for planting and use of woody energy crops grown in short rotations plantations.

Creative West

In recognition of the world-class creative resources and heritage in the West, the WDC has taken the first steps in articulating what impact and contribution the ‘creative economy’ has on the region. Following an econometric analysis and consultation with over 300 businesses and stakeholders in the sector, The Creative West report was launched in February 2009. This shows that there are 4,775 ‘creative sector’ businesses in the region. These businesses contribute €530 million to the economy every year and support over 11,000 jobs. Additionally, the report highlights that the WDC and partners can help enable real issues and opportunities to enable export-led growth to safeguard and create jobs in this highly unique and indigenous sector.

Western Development Tourism Programme

Working with partners, the WDC has been involved in this groundbreaking regional initiative which has spawned 14 tourism enterprises or products, such as Walking in the West, the Tourism Tastes Trail programme, and the Green Box initiative. In addition, hundreds of small and micro-enterprises have been supported through the programme.

Organic products

The WDC has been involved in the organic agri-food sector since 2001 and has played an important role in supporting development in the sector. Because of the positive impact of WDC initiatives, this approach can be applied to progress other aspects of the organic sector throughout Ireland. The WDC documented the development process undertaken in the organic sector in the report Western Development Commission’s Model of Rural Development. In 2007 the WDC, together with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supported a group of regional projects to carry out a strategic review of the organic agri-food sector in the Western Region.
You can download Western Development Commission’s Model of Rural Development here.

For further information on Regional Development contact:

Regional Development Manager ianbrannigan@wdc.ie