Introduction

Since April 2001, the Kilkenny County Development Board has embarked on a broad public consultation process to help formulate its County Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development 2002 to 2011.

A series of consultation meetings and workshops with groups throughout the county has resulted in a priority listing of issues that are of critical importance to both community and special interest groups in Kilkenny. A total of 12 public community meetings and three special interest group workshops (for the elderly, the disabled and for the business sector) were conducted between April and June 2001.

The Board would like to acknowledge the involvement of all those concerned. We will be using this feedback to assist us in the formulation of the development plan for the county to frame a series of social, developmental and infrastructural strategies that will play a major role in shaping and improving our amenities, facilities and services in the future.

Strategy Development

The purpose of the consultation meetings was to prepare recommendations for the County Development Board on the formulation of a County Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development 2002 to 2011.
The specific aims of this consultation process were:

1. To develop a vision of where County Kilkenny should be in relation to the issue.
2. To develop a set of realistic strategic objectives.
3. To outline the actions necessary to achieve these strategic objectives.

Consultations spanned areas such as industry, education, disability, equality, elderly, community supports, rural isolation, health, youth, sports and recreation, transport, infrastructure and cultural amenities.

People who attended the consultation meetings were asked to outline the core issues currently affecting them in their area, outlining what was working well and not working well. They were then asked to identify and prioritise three key actions that they felt would immediately impact on and improve their current situation.

The Findings

Information Services/ Agencies/Local Authority

Key Issue:
Need for better co-ordination activities between authorities, agencies, voluntary bodies etc. for improved access to information - One Stop Shop.

· Public access to information, services and supports needs to be made more accessible and user-friendly.
· Lack of co-ordination and cohesion between service/support bodies.
· Improved facilities for access to information for special needs groups.
· Peripheral areas of the county feel neglected and marginalised in terms of general supports, service/amenity provisions. Perceived centralisation of industry, amenities, services, supports in Kilkenny city.
· Town and village development plans are needed - not just for Kilkenny city.
· Access to information for special needs groups - interpreter facility for deaf community.

Infrastructure

Key Issue:
Increased and strategic investment in infrastructure required in provision of roads, telecommunications and service provision to sustain/increase economic development on a county-wide basis.

1. Local Authority Planning
· Needs to be more pro-active, constructive and transparent.
· Housing developments to be more sympathetic to local environment and an end to ribbon development. The provision of affordable housing for locals was a key issue.
· Increased provision of zoned/industrial space.

2. Roads
· Concern expressed over routing of primary routes.
· Poor quality of roads particularly in county areas.
· Traffic congestion in both county and city.
· Poor state of roads and footpaths in county areas.
· Better road markings for elderly, special needs.

3. Public Transport
· Inadequate. Felt to be a deficit in public service provision in both city and county.
· Lack of transport increased feelings of exclusion among the elderly, special needs, youth and those in rural/peripheral areas of the county.
· Improved access to public transport (hand railings etc.) for elderly and special needs.

4. Provision of Services
· Poor quality of drinking water particularly in peripheral areas of the county.
· Inadequate and 'end of lifespan' sewerage provisions.
· Waste and recycling provisions lacking on a county-wide basis.
· Cost of waste collection both city and county is prohibitive - sliding scale based on weight suggested particularly for the elderly/single home-owners.

Cultural

Key Issue:
Regeneration and revitalisation of existing physical/natural amenities.

Physical Amenities
· Upgrade in amenity value of River(s) required.
· Cultural/heritage properties to be further developed.
· Slipways and walkways along river(s) for improved community and tourism amenities.
· Flooding problems particularly in peripheral county areas.
· Dereliction of historic sites/buildings - need to identify alternative uses for properties.

Industry

Key Issue:
Strategic development of light industrial base for county areas and sustained investment in infrastructure supports for city.

· Light industry that will be complementary/appropriate to be attracted to county areas to sustain local labour force.
· Inadequate provision of work for special needs groups.
· Develop Kilkenny as a regional gateway.
· Tourism and Arts/Crafts to be further developed particularly in county areas.

Education

Key Issue:
Third level facilities for Kilkenny and improved outreach educational facilities.

· Development of third level facilities for city/county in order to sustain industry and future economic development of Kilkenny.
· Special needs education provision to reduce necessity of migration to Dublin.
· Increased outreach /adult education opportunities particularly in the area of IT.
· Cost of childcare and lack of facilities.

Healthcare

Key Issue:
Lack of supports in all areas of the county - including home for elderly/ step down facilities and sheltered housing.

· A more equitable and efficient healthcare system required - currently two-tiered (private/public).
· A home for the elderly required for the city (St. Columbas/Thomastown is excellent but access is a problem).
· Lack of supports in peripheral areas - one stop health/ophthalmic/dental centres
suggested.
· Sheltered housing -better supports for independent living.

Community Supports

Key Issue:
Utilising existing buildings to create a heart for communities - social, recreational, educational, cultural and special needs venues.

· City and county-wide need for shared community centres/halls with recreational facilities for a variety of uses (elderly, youth, adult education, special needs groups etc.) - Need a nucleus for community/social cohesion.
· Lack of Garda presence particularly in remote and isolated areas.
· Rural depletion of services/supports.