Laois agency with nearly millions to spend recruiting new chief

Laois Partnership has begun the process of recruiting a new chief who will lead the organization which will be responsible for overseeing the investment of some of the €5.7 million in Laois over the next four years.

The Leader funding company has invited applicants this week for the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Reporting to the board, Laois Partnership says applicants will take responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the organisation.

“This is a hands-on role leading a team of dedicated staff where driving decisions and empowering people at all levels will be required.

“This is an exciting opportunity for somone passionate about improving outcomes for communities experiencing many challenges and those who are most at risk of poverty and social exclusion,” says the organisation.

The Partnership requires applicants to be able to commit to onsite presence as its offices are located in Portlaoise.

The Partnership has been selected as the preferred bidder to administer the next round of Leader grant aid to communities and business in Laois.

Some €5.7 million is allocated to the county through the programme which has been administered by the company for a number of years.

The not-for-profit local development company is a registered charity. More than 40 staff work in the company which moved to a new office in Portlaosie in 2022.

The recruitment process has been necessitated by the departure of CEO Catherine Cowap.

Ms Cowap succeded Ann Goodwin who gave over two decades of work to the partnership idea in Laois. Ms Goodwin was CEO at Laois Partnership until her death in 2020.

Laois Partnership is hosting public consultations throughout March to gather public views on the creation of the new Local Development Strategy for LEADER 2023-2027. This will inform how the money coming down the pipeline will be spent.

Laois roadshow to get public views on a strategy to invest €6 million in Laois

A fund of €2 million has been set aside to the two Laois applicants and the 44 other groups around Ireland to assist them with the development of their Local Development Strategies. The other body is the  Laois Local Community Development Committee LCDC which operates under the auspices of Laois County Council.

Since its launch in 1991, LEADER has provided rural communities across the European Union with the resources to enable local partners to actively engage and direct the local development of their area, through community-led local development.