• Kilkenny County Development Board
• The RAPID (Revitalisation of Areas by Planning Investment and Development) Programme

Kilkenny County Development Board

Kilkenny County Development Board (CDB) continues to focus on the co- ordinated and integrated delivery of services in the county. The 30 members of the board come from the Local Authority Sector, Local Development Sector, State Agency Sector and the Social Partners.

The Board is cognisant of the key principles underlying the County Development Board model and has actively sought to enshrine these principles in all of its work for the future. These principles include involvement of local communities, social inclusion, participation, and democratic legitimacy, recognition of voluntary effort, participation and process as part of the solution.

Review of CDB Structure 2009-2012

Since 2005, the board's core functions have been to oversee the delivery of agreed prioritised actions over a three year period. The board has implemented 9 key actions since 2005 and has reprioritised core actions as part of the 2009 review. The operating structure of the County Development Board for 2009 to 2012 has been simplified to progress new priorities as follows:

• The development of Executive as outlined in the Indecon report
• Development of Economic Sub-group
• Re-development of Social Inclusion Measures Sub-group

The Board also operates a small number of developmental action groups to ensure implementation of actions in the following areas:

• The RAPID Programme
• The Interagency Traveller Group
• The Education Disadvantage Action Group
• The Kilkenny/Sudanese Resettlement Programme (UNHCR)
• The Kilkenny Interagency Play Forum

The Board were proud that the Kilkenny Resettlement Programme were included in the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government's Good Practice Exchange between CDB's and between CDB's and Statutory Agencies in 2009.

The County Development Board and its subgroups and action groups continue to be supported by the Directorate and staff from the Community and Enterprise Section with new support for the Economic sub-group coming from the Director of Finance.

One of the key changes for Kilkenny County Development Board has been the change of Director of Services with responsibility for Community and Enterprise. The change and challenges brought about by a new economic and political climate has not decreased the Kilkenny County Development Board's initiative to continue to work to increase levels of collaboration in the delivery of actions that will provide for an enhanced level of service provision across the county.

CDB Structure 2009-2012

The RAPID Programme

Implementing the social inclusion measures of the National Development Plan requires actions to be taken at local level. The RAPID (Revitalisation of Areas by Planning Investment and Development) programme provides a mechanism by which funding programmes can be prioritised in the most disadvantaged urban and provincial areas. The RAPID Area Implementation Team in Kilkenny is made up of all agencies with a social inclusion remit. Each agency has a responsibility to engage with RAPID Communities and prioritise these areas and these communities in work and implementation plans locally.

The underlying principles of all RAPID Priorities include;

• Better Service delivery ~ to improve service delivery and filling the gaps identified in existing service provision.
• Community Participation ~ to involve the communities in development of all plans and all actions.
• Service integration ~ to improve the co-ordination of services to service users ~ to identify existing services and how they can best interlink.
• New Investment ~ to identify new projects and funding for projects based on local need.
• Leadership ~ each theme has have an agency  that takes a lead role in implementing the plan through the chairing of this specific sub-group.

Kilkenny City RAPID Programme is focused on seven strategic themes that are ;

• Community Safety.
• Family Supports.
• Health.
• Youth Support.
• Physical Environment.
• Education.
• Employment and Training..

The 2008 - 2013 RAPID plan is divided into projects under the above themes with different agencies leading individual projects. The new plan focuses on larger scale projects with emphasis on the eastern environs and emphasis on neighbourhood regeneration. The Kilkenny RAPID Strategic plan is a working/flexible document building on existing structures striving to target the most disadvantaged people in Kilkenny.

2009 saw the completion of three major capital investment Local Authority driven actions;

• Multi Use Games area installation at Bishop Demense.
• Loughboy Estate Enhancement Seating and landscaping.
• Happe House (community house at Hebron Park) refurbishment.

Kilkenny County Development Board (CDB) continues to focus on the co-ordinated and integrated delivery of services in the county. The 30 members of the board come from the Local Authority Sector, Local Development Sector, State Agency Sector and the Social Partners. Its membership is set out below:

Since 2003, one of the Board's core functions has been to oversee the delivery of an agreed "Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development" of Kilkenny County for 2002-2012. The focus of the CDB for 2005 was the carrying out of a review of this strategy and the subsequent production of a strategy review document. The purpose of this review was not to revise the 2002-2012 strategy but rather to focus on the key priorities and actions of the next three year cycle and to examine ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service provision in Kilkenny city and county.

Steps taken in carrying out this review included.

• Initial Progress Reports from lead agencies to highlight progress as a lead agency, status report on all actions, what has worked / not worked within the process, recommendations for changes/modifications to the process / system and a preferred reporting method.
• Desktop and secondary research methods to update statistics, current trends and new policy developments.
• A number of facilitated meetings of the CDB.

Resulting from this review Kilkenny CDB has identified nine core actions which have the overriding aim of improving the existing co-ordination and delivery of public services at local level. Over the next three years, these collaborative priority actions will contribute to an increased strengthening of the effectiveness and efficiency of service provision in Kilkenny.

Specific focused working groups will be established to progress the implementation of these prioritised actions.

The CDB is serviced by the Department of Community and Enterprise in Kilkenny County Council.

KILKENNY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD 2005

The main challenge for the Board is to review its 10 year strategy as set down by the department.

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The implementation phase of the County Development Boards Strategy for Economic, Social & Cultural Development is underway. This strategy was developed after the most extensive public consultation process that has ever taken place in Kilkenny. The County Development Board consisting of 28 members representing local political interests, local development interests, state agencies and social partnership have worked for two years on the preparation of this strategy. This document represents a determined commitment on behalf of the members of the board and their agencies to collaborate in order to deliver on behalf of the citizens and communities of County Kilkenny.

Four sub-committees responsible for the implementation of the plan are now up and running including SIM (Social Inclusion Measure's Group), Community Citizen & Wellbeing, Education, & Income Generation, with each committee responsible for specific actions.(for further information please contact www.kilkennycdb.ie)

THE RAPID PROGRAMME

Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development.

Kilkenny was selected as one of twenty towns around the country for priority attention under Strand II of the RAPID Programme. A Local Area Implementation Team
(AIT) has been established for the city made up of key players from agencies and communities with particular knowledge and expertise. The AIT are actively working towards the implementation of the RAPID Kilkenny Strategic plan in the 16 identified areas in the city. The plan is working towards combating community issues varying from education, health, youth, childcare and other community issues. Developments to date include the identification & prioritization of projects for new investment, through Local Service Integration, the Dormant Accounts, & the 4th Measure. Other developments include the support & integration of the identified communities into existing structures, training, development of an information strategy & the development of projects. The programme has a bottom up approach with a strong emphasis on community participation. (www.rapidkilkenny.ie)

HERITAGE

Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with the Heritage Council, appointed a Heritage Officer in July 2003. The role of the Heritage Officer is to:

• manage the heritage function within the county in a strategic and co-ordinated manner.
• promote heritage awareness & education.
• provide advice and information on heritage issues.
• develop policies and priorities for the identification, protection, conservation and enhancement of Kilkenny's heritage.
• to establish and work with a Heritage Forum in the preparation and implementation of a County Heritage Plan.

The Heritage Plan will be a 5 year cross-sectoral strategy for heritage in County Kilkenny. The Plan will:

• collect and disseminate information on Kilkenny's heritage.
• establish a framework for the care and conservation of Kilkenny's heritage resource.
• raise awareness and appreciation of Kilkenny's heritage.
• source possible funding for heritage actions/projects.

The Heritage Plan will look at all aspects of Kilkenny';s heritage as defined by the National Heritage Act, 1995. These include:

• Archaeological objects.
• Landscapes.
• Heritage parks and gardens.
• Heritage objects.
• Seascapes.
• Inland waterways.
• Architectural heritage.
• Flora.
• Wrecks.
• Fauna.
• Wildlife habitats.
• Geology.

The Heritage Officer secured agreement from the Local Authority Management team, and the elected members of the Kilkenny Borough Council and Kilkenny County Council and the relevant Strategic Policy Committee in 2003 to establish a Heritage Forum. Work to establish the Forum and prepare the Heritage plan will continue in 2004.

• Kilkenny County Development Board
• The RAPID (Revitalisation of Areas by Planning Investment and Development) Programme

Kilkenny County Development Board

Kilkenny County Development Board (CDB) continues to focus on the co-ordinated and integrated delivery of services in the county. The 30 members of the board come from the Local Authority Sector, Local Development Sector, State Agency Sector and the Social Partners. Its membership is set out below:

Since 2005, one of the board's core functions has been to oversee the delivery of the agreed Review Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development; this review document contained 9 priority actions for implementation.

The Board is cognisant of the key principles underlying the County Development Board model and has actively sought to enshrine these principles in all of its work for the future. These principles include involvement of local communities, social inclusion, participation, and democratic legitimacy, recognition of voluntary effort, participation and process as part of the solution.

In October 2008, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government distributed guidelines for the review of City and County Development Board Strategies.

The purpose of this review document is to build on the existing review in 2005, to revise and update relevant information and to once again focus on the key priorities and actions for the next three year cycle as well as to examine ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service provision in Kilkenny city and county.

Review of CDB Structure 2009-2012

As an outcome of the CDB review in 2005 Kilkenny County Development Board has operated as an integrated board at executive level with 9 action groups and the Social Inclusion Measures sub-group. The board has also operated working groups and steering committees to progress issues that have been identified nationally for the CDB to implement locally.

As part of the review 2009 the board has identified an operating structure to progress new priorities identified; these are:

• The development of Executive as outlined in the Indecon report membership and terms of reference.
• Development of Economic Sub-group as outlined in Circular LG 16/08.

Re-development of Social Inclusion Measures Sub-group-membership and terms of reference.

• The operation of a small number of steering groups/working groups overseeing developmental pieces of work.

CDB Structure 2009-2012

Prioritised Key Actions 2009/2012

The Rationale

Kilkenny County Development Board has identified six core actions that have the overriding aim of improving the existing co-ordination and delivery of public services at local level. Three prioritised actions will be monitored by SIM Group and three actions monitored by the Economic Sub-group.

There are also a number of actions that have been identified nationally as on-going developmental actions; as well as key actions identified locally that have been identified to continue into the 2009 - 2012 period. It is envisioned that these will continue to be implemented and the associated structures that oversee implementation will remain in place.

It ia hoped that over the next three years, these collaborative priority actions will contribute to an increased strengthening of the effectiveness and efficiency of service provision in Kilkenny

The RAPID Programme

Implementing social inclusion measures of the National Development Plan requires actions to be taken at local level. The RAPID (Revitalisation of Areas by Planning Investment and Development) programme provides a mechanism by which Exchequer funding programmes can prioritise investment in 46 of the most disadvantaged urban and provincial areas. Social inclusion issues are also incorporated in the work of local authorities through their Corporate Plans and through their various programme groups, including planning, housing and infrastructural provision.

The RAPID Programme is a focused Government response aimed at helping communities living in areas, which have not fully shared in our recent prosperity. RAPID stands for Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development. As the name implies RAPID is about prioritising in a coherent, targeted and accelerated way, new and improved services and infrastructural investment to the communities living in RAPID areas. The RAPID process co-ordinated by the Kilkenny Local Authorities in partnership with existing agencies and community groups continues to work towards identifying real needs through community participation

The 2008 - 2013 RAPID plan is a follow up from our Strategic Plan submitted in 2003. The Strategic plan was completed following extensive consultation with the identified RAPID areas in Kilkenny. The new plan focuses on larger scale projects with emphasis on the eastern environs and emphasis on neighbourhood regeneration. The Kilkenny RAPID Strategic plan is a working/flexible document building on existing structures striving to target the most disadvantaged people in the City. The Kilkenny City RAPID Programme plan 2008 - 2013 seeks to build upon the Strategic Plan(2003 - 2006). Being guided by the local communities, the Kilkenny City RAPID Programme will focus on seven strategic themes that are ;

• Community Safety
• Family Supports
• Health
• Youth Support
• Physical Environment
• Education
• Employment and
• Training.

Five of these themes have been launched at National Level and locally our sub-groups have been formed. These strategic aims and objectives will form our work plan for the coming years combining new investment projects closely with objectives working towards better service integration and improved customer services for communities of the RAPID Areas. This review is broken down into each theme to provide a clearer view of actions and priorities in each area. All strategic plans when completed will be compiled to form Kilkenny's Rapid strategic plan to 2013.

Kilkenny County Development Board

Kilkenny County Development Board (CDB) is supported By Kilkenny County Council in its role in focusing on the co-ordinated and integrated delivery of services in the county. The 30 members of the board are drawn from the Local Authority Sector, Local Development Sector, State Agency Sector and the Social Partners.

The CDB works through two main sub-groups, Economic sub group and the Social Inclusion Measures (SIM) sub-group, made up of agencies and groups that have the capacity to shape and deliver on actions identified.
 

Economic Sub Group

The Economic Sub-group organised the Invest Kilkenny conference where the Invest Kilkenny website was launched; both are deemed as hugely successful.

Social Inclusion Measures Sub Group

The SIM Sub-group assisted in the establishment of the NIRSA project. The project was developed in conjunction with the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA), which provides a tool for sharing multi-agency data using geographic information systems (GIS). A full-time GIS researcher was also employed by NUI Maynooth under the project.
 

Revitalisation of Areas by Planning Investment and Development (RAPID)

The RAPID programme provides a mechanism by which funding programmes can be prioritised for the most disadvantaged urban and provincial areas.

The RAPID Area Implementation Team in Kilkenny comprises all agencies with a social inclusion remit. Each agency has a responsibility to engage with RAPID Communities and prioritise these areas and these communities in work and implementation plans locally.

The programme has seven strategic themes; Community Safety, Family Supports, Health, Youth Support, Physical Environment, Education& Employment and Training. Key achievements in 2011 include the following;

• the development of an exercise track with outdoor equipment at Bishop Demense. The development of this 4 acre site has been progressing for the past number of years in consultation with the local Butts Community.
• No. 83 Newpark Close was made available to the Community Committee as a community house. This community house is managed by a Community Committee, which is made up of residents on the estate, in association with the Board of Management of the Family Resource Centre in the area.
• The Rapid Community Garden Programme is a cross community local training initiative funded by FAS, co-ordinated through RAPID and is supported by Newpark Close FRC, Happe House, Fr. McGrath centre, DSP, KLP and VEC. Further elements of the programme include a cross community initiative between Newpark Close, Hebron Park and The Butts with 40 trainees and a 25 week Fetac level 3 award involving Modules in Horticulture, Construction, Communications, Career Preparation, Math's & Computers.

Phase 3 of the Bishop Demense project will involve the development of playing pitches and the opening of a community gardern for the Butts community.

The number of visitors to local authority -facilitated leisure facilities 432,380 in 2011 up from 384,000 in 2010.

Kilkenny Integration Forum

• Kilkenny County Council received funding from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to fund the work of Kilkenny Integration Forum. A budget of €6,000 was made available for members or member groups of the Integration Forum to host an intercultural sports or celebration event.
• The Asouli Art Group organised an exhibition of their work at Butler Court, Patrick Street, Kilkenny as part of the Kilkenny Art Festival from the 5th to 14th of August 2011.
• Ossory Youth Intercultural Camp was made up of 12 young people, some from the Sudanese Kilkenny Youth Group and other new recruits from Kilkenny (15-18 years old).
• The Association of Sudanese Communities in Kilkenny hosted a celebration of the Independence of the Republic of Southern Sudan on the 19th of August in Millennium Court.
• The Kilkenny Congolese Community celebrated Congolese Cultural with an event in the Watershed.
• St. Canice's Community Action hosted a Table Tennis Tournament in the Butts neighbourhood Centre.
• The Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation hosted an open family day for the general public and friends of Lebanon.
• The Gambia Association of Ireland, based in Kilkenny also ran a public family fun day.
• Kilkenny County Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Integration Centre who will lead and support the process of developing an Integration Strategy for Kilkenny.
• Kilkenny County Council was successful in winning the Integration Centre's Diverse Ireland Awards under the Local Authority category. These awards have been created to raise awareness of the positive advancements around immigrant integration in Ireland. These awards have been established to help people learn more about the important work being done and to honour the efforts of those who are creating stronger, more unified and successful communities.
• The County Development Board and its subgroups and action groups continue to be supported by the Directorate and staff from the Community and Culture Section with support for the Economic sub-group coming from the Director of Finance within Kilkenny County Council.

Kilkenny County Council was successful in winning the Integration Centre's Diverse Ireland Awards under the Local Authority category.

Kilkenny County Council received funding from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to fund the work of Kilkenny Integration Forum.