Page 51 - Donegal CC An Rpt 19

Trail Gazers project field trip to Algarve in November
One of the key achievements in 2019 included the development of a research paper for the roll out of Community Trail Plans to strengthen local communities
and build a strong slow tourism network of experiences for walkers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. On the 19th November a field trip took place to the Algarve to examine
the impacts of mass tourism, flooding and high level resort development on local economies.
On the 17th June, the first Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) Taskforce Meeting was held
in Donegal and chaired by Minister of State Seán Canney. The aim of the AEC is to build and increase collaboration along the Western seaboard, stretching from Kerry to Donegal, in a way that maximises its assets, attracts investment and creates jobs and prosperity. This meeting provided an excellent opportunity to highlight key opportunities
& challenges facing the county and also to place new strategic projects requiring investment onto the national agenda.
The Research and Policy Unit continued
the monitoring and evaluation of the Local Economic and Community Plan. The research team worked with key stakeholders in scoping out 150 projects, active through this plan.
The results of the Donegal Happiness Survey were presented to Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). This survey set out to determine how residents rate their quality of life and to provide potential investors with real evidence of the superior quality of life that their workforce could enjoy across different rural and urban locations in the county.
The Research and Policy Unit played an active role in the organization and promotion of the ‘Careers Fair for Young People with Disabilities or Additional Support needs’ held in the LYIT on 16th November.
The Unit dealt with a wide range of research requests including the finalisation of
an ‘optimal locational choice model for sheltered housing’ in Donegal; the review of the Donegal County Council Corporate Plan; and the compilation of key performance indicators to support various Economic Development presentations.
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