Audit of Services

Step 2 of the development process for the preparation of a Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development for County Kilkenny requires the preparation of an audit of service provision. This task has now been substantially completed given the volume of data associated with the audit it was deemed necessary to device a specific system to facilitate its interpretation. This database contains 577 different organisations giving details such as contact persons, the nature of service they provide, the geographical location, information relating to staffing, funding etc. A number of sample sheets from the database are attached.

Data Sets

Kilkenny County Development Board is also required to prepare an analysis of the present economic, social and cultural situation in the County and this forms Step 3 of the process. Data is being gathered under the following headings:
Physical features Transport
Environment Safety & Justice
Demography Sport
Economy/Living Standards Tourism
Labour Force Education
Economic Sectors & Output Welfare
Health Local Authority
Housing Local Development
Energy Civics
Research & development

The information priorities were determined at a previous board meeting. While the information is extensive there are some weaknesses, the principal of these is the fact that much of the information is dependent on the census. Currently the only figures available relate to 1996 census and as you are aware the census for the current year has been postponed to next year because of the Foot & Mouth situation. In order to be able to effectively interpretate the data that has been collected a geographical analytical tool known as Map Info has been installed. Specimen maps and tables that can be constructed from this database are attached.

Community Consultation Process
The Community Consultation Process has now moved beyond the half way mark and a separate report is being prepared highlighting the main issues that have been raised through this process. The process consists of 11 meetings set out as follows:

Meetings will commence at 8:30 p.m. on each night

23rd April - Callan - CBS

24th April - Thomastown - VEC
25th April - Slieverue - VEC
26th April - Piltown - Community Centre
30th April - Castlcomer Community Hall
1st May - Urlingford/Johnstown - Johnstown VEC
2nd May - Graignamagh - VEC
3rd May - St. Patrick's - St John of God
8th May - St. Mary's - Presentation Primary
9th May - St John's - County Hall
10th May - St. Canice's - Primary School

A number of board members and members of the County Council have attended some of these, members have been urged to attend at least one of the meetings in order for them to have an understanding of how the exercise is being conducted and thereby have a better understanding when the reports from the process emerge.

County Childcare Committee

The County Childcare Committee has now been established and have had two meetings the members of the committee are as follows:

This process is part of the national programme to form County Childcare Committees in each of the counties and to prepare a Strategy for Childcare Provision for every county in the country.

National Children's Strategy

The National Children's Strategy has been launched with three main goals

"Children will have a voice" - developing consultative processes with children
"Children's lives will be better understood" - research
"Children will receive quality supports and services"- better co-ordination and integration of services

County Development Boards have identified as the local tier responsible for delivering this strategy.

Sports Partnership

An application for a Sports Partnership has been developed and was submitted to the National Sports Council. The VEC led the initiative and the County Development Board worked with a number of other agencies in preparing the application. Unfortunately the application has not been successful, however a structure is now in place and it is expected that the support for these partnerships will be extended to all the other local authorities over a given period of time. When a Sports Partnership is eventually established its purpose will be to facilitate the development of a range of sports and recreational actions throughout County Kilkenny.