clare county council

"Our Mission is to work in Partnership to make County Clare a Better Place in which to Live, Work, Visit and Invest."

Clare County Council is responsible for the administrative area of Co. Clare, excluding the Ennis urban area. The Council is responsible for the planning, design and construction of important infrastructures, such as roads, water supply, drainage facilities and certain social and quasi-social services, such as housing, fire stations, libraries and burial grounds. It is the custodian of the environment and through it's planning and environment policies seeks to enhance the county while protecting it's unique character and atmosphere. It plays an active role in the development of the county's industrial, business, social, arts, heritage and cultural affairs.

The respresenational role of Clare County Council is performed directly by the elected members of the Council. There are 32 members, who are elected from 6 local electoral area:-

Kilrush:      7 members Ennistymon:   6 members Shannon:    5 members Killaloe:    4 members Scariff:      3 members

The functions performed by the Elected Members are called "reserved functions". These lay down the framework of policy, under with the County Manager operates. Such functions include:

Adoption of Estimates of Expenses       Making or varying the County Development Plan       Adoption of Scheme of Letting Priorities       Making, amending and revoking bye-laws       Approval for borrowing money       Declaration of roads to be public roads

The Council makes it's decisions by resolution (at it's meetings). The County Manager and his staff perform the operational role of Clare County Council. They are responsible for the day to day administration of the County Council. The County Manager performs, what are called, the "executive functions". His decisions are made by written "Manager's Order". These functions include:

the letting of houses       the granting or refusal of planning permissions  the appointment of staff

The County Manager, in making his decisions, must act in a way that is consistent with the policy, which has been established by the elected members while, at the same time, advising the members in relation to the performance of their reserved functions.