Board of Westmeath County Enterprise Board.

Structure

The operation of all Enterprise Boards is governed by a voluntary Board of 14 members comprising of representatives from state agencies, the voluntary and business sector, the social partners and local authority members. The wide representational basis of the members of the Board reflects one of the novel features of the County Enterprise Boards and helps to establish, develop and maintain close contacts between the Board and local business and community representatives throughout the County.

Strategic Objectives

Westmeath County Enterprise Board Ltd. has set itself the following strategic objectives:

• To act as the central agency for micro business development within the County.
• To foster an enterprise culture within the County by promoting and influencing enterprise awareness and education.
• To strengthen the internal capability of micro/small business sector within the County providing a comprehensive range of services and supports in the form of financial assistance, training programmes, business information and advice to businesses.
• To exert an influence and impact on the economic and social growth of the County by exploiting development opportunities in partnership with other local interests.

Members of Westmeath County Enterprise Board

Community Representatives

• Frances Guckian (Chairperson) - Community Representative
• Rose Wright - Community Representative
• Joe Daly - Community Representative
• Thomas McCormick - Business Representative

Local Authority Members

• Cllr. Peter Burke - Westmeath County Council
• Cllr. Gabrielle Mc Fadden - Westmeath County Council
• Cllr. Paddy Hill - Westmeath County Council
• Cllr. Detty Cornally - Westmeath County Council

State Agency & Social Partner Representatives

• Pat Campbell (Vice-Chairperson) - FÁS
• Barry Egan- Enterprise Ireland
• Maurice Stenson, Westmeath County Council
• Des Sheridan - ICTU
• Tom Reid - IBEC
• Eunan Bannon - IFA

  Evaluation Committee

  Board meetings are usually held on a 6 weekly basis, at which grant applications are reviewed subject to funding. Grant applications are reviewed internally by WCEB staff and then appraised externally by an independent Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee comprises of members of the business community, financial institutions and local authority and they normally meet every six weeks one week before a Board meeting.
  Members of the Westmeath County Enterprise Board Evaluation Committee are:

  • Mr. Des Walsh, Gibson and Fletcher Accountants, Mullingar.
  • Mr. Dermot Power, Bank of Ireland, Mullingar.
  • Ms. Francis Guckian, Chairperson, Westmeath County Enterprise Board Ltd.
  • Mr. Paul Maguire, Enterprise Ireland, Dublin.