Businness people in Clare say they are quietly confident of growth heading into 2015.
Their comments come, as new figures from the Central Statistics Office show a nine per cent drop in the number of people receiving some form of unemployment assistance in the county over the course of 2014.
However entreprenuers are calling on Clare County Council to address the way it charges rates and to create incentives for new startups in towns.
Over the course of 2014 a total of 858 people left Clare's dole queues, that represents a nine per cent drop throughout the county during the year.
In December just over 8,400 people were signed on the dole here.
It follows three successive monthly increases in the numbers claiming some form of unemployment support.
An additional 228 people joined dole queues here in December, with over 100 of these signing on in North Clare alone.
Kilfenora Businness woman Orla Vaughan says people are resilient and will do all they can to stay afloat however she says the way the Clare County Council charges rates needs to be addressed.
Meanwhile Interim President of Ennis Chamber Alec Fleming says businnesses in the town are feeling more confident heading into 2015.
One of the big news stories of 2014 was the launch of the Wild Atlantic Way and the positive impact felt in West Clare, in particular, as a result.
PRO of Kilrush Chamber of Commerce Jack Kelly is confident that will continue to provide a boost to the local econimy in the coming years.
