WDC SUPPORTS WESTERN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
With the new Programme for Government now officially in place, Tomás Ó Siochán, CEO of the Western Development Commission, spoke to Peigin Doyle about how it will sit with the Commission’s role of supporting balanced social and economic development in seven western and north-western counties. EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS
The 17th Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2020, which will be
presented on Thursday 26 November, will again showcase examples of best practice in local government by local authorities around the country.
HOUSING FIRST MODEL MAKES ITS MARK IN MID-EAST
County councils in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow are working in association with Peter McVerry Trust to deliver the Housing First model in in the Mid-East, to address the homeless situation for people with complex needs across the three counties. TOP MARKS ON ‘LAPTOPS FOR LOAN’ SCHEME IN MEATH!
Meath County Council’s Library Service has partnered with Facebook, under a new ‘Laptops for Loan’ initiative, in which 900 laptops will be made available to fifth year and Leaving Cert Applied students in Meath. COMPETITION OPEN TO FIND EUROPE’S GREENEST CITIES
The deadline date to submit applications for the 2023 European Green Capital and the 2022 European Green Leaf Awards, is 28 October 2020 which again will recognise the commitment by cities to becoming more sustainable regions. NEW SKILLS APP TAPS INTO ENERGY RENOVATION
The Irish Green Building Council, in conjunction with Limerick Institute of Technology, has launched the BUILD UP Skills Advisor app to facilitate energy renovation upskilling by enabling professionals and construction workers to identify training courses that suit their needs in one click. TECHNOLOGY TAKES ON CULTURE OF COMPO CLAIMS
To outline how technology may help local authorities to reduce public liability claims, Larry Fenelon, solicitor and co-founder of a legal tech company, says it can deliver solutions to digitally collate appropriate data. SOUTH DUBLIN’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
South Dublin County Council has been working continuously to maintain its range of services for businesses and to provide community support and advice, especially to vulnerable and ‘at risk’ citizens during this pandemic. DONEGAL LEADS THE TRAIL TOWARDS RURAL RECOVERY
Donegal County Council is leading the new Atlantic Area Trail Gazers Project, which includes trails from Donegal to Portugal. It has been set up to stimulate rural community growth by linking strategic walking and recreational pathways in areas of natural, built and cultural heritage with surrounding towns and villages. A MODEL ROADMAP TO RECOVERY FOR WEXFORD
The findings of a major report produced by County Wexford Chamber of Commerce have found that the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme must remain in place for a full 12 months along with a reduction or suspension in commercial rates in order for businesses in County Wexford to prosper again. CORK IN TOP GEAR WITH NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEET
Cork City Council is taking the lead nationally by rolling out up to 76 electric vehicles
(EVs), thereby creating the biggest local authority EV fleet in the country, which will result
in substantial savings of up to €700,000 over five years for the council.