Offaly Local Development Company not committed to Edenderry - cllr

The CEO of Offaly Local Development Company has rubbished allegations by Edenderry councillor Fergus McDonnell that the development company is not committed to Edenderry and North Offaly, but has declined to comment on a potential job loss for the organisation in the town. Councillor Fergus McDonnell told the Offaly Independent yesterday (Thursday) that Edenderry is "losing programmes and full-time positions" and that he remains "to be convinced that Offaly Local Development will better serve the North Offaly area than that of its predecessor OAK Partnership". However, CEO of Offaly Local Development Brendan O'Loughlin hit back yesterday, re-affirming the organisation's commitment to the area. "Offaly Local Development Company is fully committed to helping the communities in Edenderry," he said. He said the organisation has been "actively involved with community groups" including providing funding for St Joseph's Community Hall Acorn project, Edenderry swimming pool and the Edenderry playground due to be officially opened today (Friday). The work of OAK Partnership, which covered North Offaly and parts of Kildare, was amalgamated with Tullamore Wider Options and West Offaly Partnership and others under the umbrella of Offaly Local Development Community in 2008. According to Cllr McDonnell staffing levels of 17 under OAK Partnership in the town stand now at just six under Offaly Local Development Company, and he claims one of those positions is in line to be cut imminently. In the event of the further cuts to staff numbers Cllr McDonnell said it "would send a signal that Offaly Local Development Company is not committed to Edenderry and the North Offaly area". Mr O'Loughlin, however, said that at the time of amalgamation, half of Edenderry's OAK Partnership staff moved to Kildare. Since then two have left their positions in Edenderry, but he said Offaly Local Development Company currently has eight full time staff, three part time and further staff who use the Edenderry offices once or twice a week. Regarding the potential loss of a position Mr O'Loughlin said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the matter at this time. Cllr McDonnell said he had been approached by a number of people from North Offaly who are concerned in particular about the future of the Jobs Initiative in the area, which is run by Offaly Local Development Company. This week he called on members of the board of Offaly Local Development to stop any proposed job losses in the Jobs Initiative scheme in Edenderry.