On the basis of the work carried out to date, it is now possible to
proceed to Step 4 of the eight step process to the creation of the
Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development for County
Kilkenny. For the Boards perspective this is probably the most challenging
phase of the total exercise. It is desirable that Step 4 would be
completed at the May meeting of the board in order to stay within
the time frame as set out in the "Shared Vision" document.
Audit
of Services
The Audit of
Services has now been completed and the final draft will be circulated
at our board meeting, this will be a particularly useful reference
in the context of the remaining part of the process.
Data
sets
At this stage
a database containing the most comprehensive set of information
on all aspects of life in Kilkenny City and County has been gathered.
The next challenge will be to analyse and present the data in a
manner that will inform the total process. Despite the extensive
nature of the data gathered it does have some weaknesses - the demographic
information is mainly based on the 1996 census which at this stage
is very much out of date. The analytical tool being used by use
is known as Map Info. As staff members we have been involved in
training process to enable us to make effective use of this software.
A small number of slides will be prepared on the day indicating
the extent of the information available and the power of the analytical
tools that have currently been installed.
Local
Consultation
In order to
inform the process for the development of a County Strategy for
Economic, Social and Cultural Development, it will be necessary
to embark on a consultation process with the broad communities of
Kilkenny. The aim of the consultation will be to facilitate a wide
range of inputs from all sectors of the community and from this
to develop a vision for the future.
It was proposed
to have a series of nine meetings throughout the county these meetings
will have regard to the electoral area boundaries of the county.
The number of meetings will be determined on the basis of population
concentrations, the schedule of meetings are as follows:
| Callan
Electoral Area - proposed date |
Thursday,
29th March, 2001 |
| Thomastown
- proposed date |
Monday,
2nd April, 2001 |
| Gowran
- proposed date |
Tuesday, 3rd April, 2001 |
| Piltown
- proposed date |
Wednesday,
4th April, 2001 |
| Glenmore
- proposed date |
Thursday,
5th April, 2001 |
| Kilkenny
City - St. John's Parish |
Monday
9th April, 2001 |
| St.
Patrick's Parish - Tuesday |
Tuesday
10th April, 2001 |
| oint
Meeting - St. Mary's and St. Canice's |
Wednesday 11th April, 2001 |
You will note
that there will be two meetings in the rural electoral areas of
Thomastown, Piltown and Ballyragget it was proposed to have four
meetings in the Kilkenny electoral area corresponding with the parish
boundaries. Since Callan is the smallest electoral area it is proposed
to have only one meeting. Various initiatives will be put in place
to ensure maximum participation at these events.
Board members,
the elected members of the county and member of the Community Liaison
Group are encouraged to attend these meetings.
County
Childcare Committee
The County Childcare
Committee has now been established and have had two meetings the
members of the committee are as follows:
| Ms.
Marie Kennedy |
SEHB |
| Una
McHale |
SEHB |
| Tony
Walsh |
Kilkenny
County Council |
| Helen
Landers |
Kilkenny
County Council |
| Eileen
Curtis |
VEC |
| Roly
Collier |
FAS |
| Liam
Kavanagh |
Dept. Social, Community & Family Affairs |
| Martin
Henry |
National
Voluntary Childcare Organisation |
| Aine
Turley |
National
Voluntary Childcare Organisation |
| Fergus
Keane |
KCAN |
Stephen
Murphy
|
St.
Canice's Community Action, Community based (not for profit)
Childcare Provider |
| Rosemary
Ryan |
Community
based (not for profit) Childcare Provider |
| Helena
Doheny |
Private
Childcare Sector Provider |
| Marian
Fitzpatrick |
Private
Childcare Sector Provider |
| Martin
Riches |
Community
& Voluntary Sector |
| Andrew
Castles |
Representation
by Parents |
Lillian
Taylor
|
Representation
by Parents
Rep of Trade Union
Rep of Employers |
| Teresa
McDonnell |
Farming
Pillar |
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 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. The Partnership will facilitate the development
of a range of sports and recreational actions in County Kilkenny.
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