Shared Vision

All three reports prepared by the Interdepartmental task force on the integration of Local Government and Local Development Systems have now been assembled into a single document copies of these are now been provided for the board members. It should also be noted that these three reports have been signed off by Government and therefore this document now forms the single authoritative framework for the operation of the County Development Board and for the creation of the "Strategy for Economic, Social & Cultural Development".

Structures

A key requirement of this process is to have the widest possible sense of ownership of the outputs. Considerable effort has therefore been invested in order to create the structures to achieve this. The board itself is the core of the structure. In general the various organisations and institutions representative on this board have their own means of networking. It is and will continue to be necessary to provide a support for the newly formed Community & Voluntary Forum at elective area level. The final part of the structure that needs to be put in place is the expanded committees at area level. The intention is to have these in place and operational before the end of the year. These committees are essential in order to ensure that the varying issues in the defined geographical areas are properly addressed in the context of the overall strategy.

Audit of Service Provision

Apart from the work of the sub-committee there are two further areas that work needs to commence on. The first of these is to complete an audit of the various services that are provided by the various agencies operating in the county, in particular those agencies that form part of the County Development Board. It is a relatively easy matter to get a list of functions and services being provided by the various agencies and to assemble this into a single document.

Analysis Of The Present Economic, Social & Cultural Situation In The County

Kilkenny County Council is currently preparing its County Development Plan and it will be a requirement to have such an analysis prepared in the context of this plan. I believe it is appropriate to avoid duplication that the County Development Board avail of the analysis being prepared by Kilkenny County Council. This will need to be augmented in order to address the broader nature of the Strategy for Economic, Social & Cultural Development.

Indicators

A further exercise that will need to be addressed is the development of a set of indicators for economic social and cultural activity. This exercise relates to the analysis referred to above. Examples of these are as follows:

Income of population - to DED level - (GVA, income and VAT)
Types of benefits paid by location (DED if possible) and age profile
Level of education attainment and early school leaving, graduate destinations and transition to post primary.
Health of population - Number of medical cards
Crime levels
Skills profiles of long term unemployed
State expenditure per county
Home help levels and number of carers
Refugee numbers
New Business start ups
Agricultural data - small holders
Tourism - levels of spending/visits
Profile of employment, profile of persons living in County but working elsewhere
Disabled participation, minority health indicators
Access/delivery of Health Services

Chain of Office

I am suggesting that a selection be made on the basis of these submissions having regard to quality and price.

As you are aware a County Development Board information leaflet has been commissioned, printing of this leaflet has been delayed until the membership of the board has been fully determined. A supply of leaflets will be issued to each member when available.