This article is from page 34 of the 2008-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
AN effort to adapt to the changing needs in a parish in east Clare will be made over the coming weeks When locals compile a community TOTS H ESE
Through the initiative, all 1,200 households in Parteen, Meelick and Coonagh will receive ‘listening census’ forms in the coming weeks. They will be asked to fill out the forms and return them to the organ- isers of the initiative, the parish pas- toral council.
The aim behind this project is to compile a list of events and initia- tives that locals feel are lacking. The organisers then plan to do as much as
they can to implement key changes in the local community and address the needs highlighted in the census.
The forms are divided into three areas – how local communication can be improved, suggestions regarding social improvement in the commu- nity and involvement in church ac- tivities.
Residents are also being encour- aged to make any additional sugges- tions which they think would help develop the community.
Project manager Peter O’ Mahony explained the idea to carry out this research.
‘Towards the end of last year, we realised it was getting more difficult to get in touch with every household
in the county. We then came up with the idea of a listening census.
“It means that we will listen to the community and then inform them we do have an active community. They will be asked if they would like to be involved locally,” said Mr O’ Mahony.
This census will vary in some ways, to the national census of population, which was compiled last year.
“It is different in that it 1s option- al. You are not obliged to fill it out. While the national census 1s to iden- tify future needs, we don’t have in- dependent funding as it is voluntary work,’ he added.
“One of the first things we will do is get an email address, phone number
and postal address for every house in the community. It is about forming a key part of our new communications strategy which is going to allow the community to communicate better with itself,’ he added.
They said that the third part of the census, which relates to the church, will give people the opportunity to get involved in this particular area.