Kilkenny County Council is committed to the use of information systems to expand and increase the efficiency and quality of service delivery to the public. The Information Services Department looks after the Information Systems requirements of the County Council, Borough Council and County Library.

Highlights for 2003 were:

• There were continued improvements and enhancements to the Kilkenny County Council Wide Area Network and in 2003 we integrated Kilkenny County Library network into the main WAN.
• Rollout of a new VOIP telephone system to 10 sites which offers users and customers seamless connection to over 20 sites.
• Considerable progress was achieved in rolling out the Kilkenny County Council Intranet to facilitate better information sharing among staff and over 150 staff trained on its uses.
• There was ongoing development to main web sites and improvements to

• Considerable developments made in the area of Geographical Information systems (GIS). The planning department is now using the first fully digitized planning register in the country.
• Online Library Catalogue - WebOpac - made available on http://www.kilkennylibrary.ie

• Completion of Structured Cabling Project in County Hall
• Migration of core network services from Windows NT to Windows 2003 Server
• Migration from Windows Exchange Server 5.5 to Windows 2003.
• Network certification achieved from the Local Government Computer Services Board
• In November Kilkenny Local Authorities joined the Gov VPN enabling us make better use of our internet connection and improve the connection speeds to libraries.
• Rollout of Citrix to Area Offices and Councillors enabling better connectivity options between remote sites and users.
• Electronic Fund Transfer for supplier payments in use

Higher Education Grant Scheme

Kilkenny County Council pays Higher Education Grants to students attending approved courses in various Third Level Institutions. The 2002 scheme prepared by the Minister for Education was considered and adopted by the Higher Education Grants Committee in September 2002. A total of 272 students applied for grants for the first time in 2002. A further 514 students renewed their grants in 2002. Expenditure of €1,995,724 was incurred in 2002.

The closing date for receipt of Higher Education Grant Forms in 2002 was Friday, 30th August, 2002. An information evening was held in the Desart Hall in late September.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act, 1997 came into effect for local authorities from 21st October, 1998. Mr. James Gibbons, Administrative Officer was appointed Freedom of Information Officer in 2000. A total of 90 requests under the Act were received in 2002.

New Financial Management System (FMS)

Both Kilkenny County Council and Borough Council successfully implemented the final phase, Phase 3, of the FMS in late 2002. With the completion of this phase, the Council now has a fully integrated financial and management information system which will lead to improved budgetary control and accountability. 2003 will be the first year for which the Council will prepare Profit & Loss Account plus a Balance Sheet on the accruals basis.

• Revenue Collection figure for Rates in 2002 i.e. 94.2%

Civic Reception to confer Civic Honours on Brian Cody and to honour the seven 2008 All Ireland Winning Teams.

A civic reception was held on Saturday night 13^th of December 2008 to confer formal civic honours on Mr. Brian Cody and to honour the 7 teams who won All Ireland's in 2008.

At a glittering reception held in the newly constructed Watershed Arena, members of Kilkenny County Council, various dignitaries, players and officials of the teams, their families and members of the public saw Chairman of Kilkenny County Council Tomas Breathnach present Brian Cody formal civic honours 'in recognition of a significant and outstanding contribution to the game of hurling and the pleasure which his teams have given to County Kilkenny during this era of unprecedented success'.

In proposing the motion, Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh stated that it was only fitting the Councillors as representatives of the people of Kilkenny confer these honours in recognition of the great contribution that Brian Cody has made to the game of hurling in Kilkenny both as a player and manager.

Seconding the motion, Cllr. Michael Lanigan added that these awards are recognition of the sacrifices made by all the 7 teams and all working behind the scenes to achieve this success.

The Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Tomas Breathnach stated that "the holding of this civic reception is not simply a measure of recognition on behalf of the organisation but is a token of recognition and thanks from the people that we represent the length and breathe of County Kilkenny".

The recognition awards were presented to the 7 captains of the various winning teams. Brian Cody was accompanied on the night by his wife Elsie and his two sons Donnacha and Diarmuid.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Tomas Breathnach presenting a specially commissioned piece of Kilkenny Crystal to Brian Cody on the occasion of him being presented with Civic Honours from Kilkenny County Coucil.

Members of the Cody family with the framed notice confirming the granting of Civic Honours.

Members of Kilkenny County Council together with the Cody family at the Special Meeting of Kilkenny County Council granting Civic Honours to Brian Cody and honouring the 7  victorious  2008 All Ireland winning county teams.

Anna and Michelle Farrell and Sinead Brennan, the 3 victorious All Ireland winning camogie captains pictured at the civic reception honouring the 7 All Ireland winning teams. All 3 girls are members of Thomastown camogie club.
 

The Economic Development Unit has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote Kilkenny as a location for investment. Key activities were carried out to build relationships with businesses and stakeholders, embed the county's strengths as a great place to work, ensure a positive and robust environment is in place to support business and finally, to communicate these activities. Underpinning all initiatives is a Communication Programme which is ongoing, targeting a broad audience of local, regional, national and multinational sectors.
 

The core activities centre on the following:

• Hosting a number of high profile promotional events to advance Sector development and engagement - marketing Kilkenny as a location for investment to IT/technology sectors and Life Sciences, including Pharma with specific focus on South Kilkenny/Belview zone
• Establishment of a research and innovation centre in Kilkenny to embed IT skills and secure clustering of technology companies
• Establishment of an Agri-Food group to focus on sector preparation and promotion
• Working with tourism and all stakeholders to market Kilkenny as a great place to visit and do business

A number of high profile events were hosted in 2011 to raise Kilkenny's profile as a business location, develop linkages with the existing business community, and to market the city and county to new potential markets.

The Business Support Unit hosted the launch of Intel's International Schools Innovation Camp, WIT's Next Generation Internet Conference and a Civic reception to mark 10 years of State Street's presence in Kilkenny.

A number of high level, business centric visits were hosted. A party of delegates from the Ireland-India Council, including a senior Minister, visited Kilkenny to meet with local government officials.

A comprehensive visit from the Chinese 'Xinhua' news agency. Senior journalists accompanied by a film crew and reporters spent three days meeting business leaders, and visiting companies and historic sites and interviewed Minister Phil Hogan.

This coincided with the launch of the Invest Kilkenny Chinese micro-website at a 'Focus on China' Business Seminar which was held in the Parade Tower. Kilkenny local authorities became the first in Ireland to launch a site in Chinese as part of a bid to attract investment from the Far East. Media coverage of Kilkenny was printed and broadcast in Chinese print and Xinhus's News Agency TV Channel CBC.

Ms Zhang ShuJing, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy launches
the Invest Kilkenny Chinese microsite with Minister Hogan and Manager Joe Crockett

Work continued to build and develop the Invest Kilkenny website, adding interviews with key business people in Kilkenny and additional marketing material, while growing the social media community networks.

Invest Kilkenny brochures and promotion material was distributed to C.E.O's of major companies in Ireland and companies added links from their websites to Invest Kilkenny's site.

Articles on the Invest Kilkenny initiative were published in the broadsheets and council review, and various online media sites.

The Business Support Unit supported a local Start-up competition to promote entrepreneurship, participated in focus groups for enterprise development and conducted a number of meetings with potential entrepreneurs and companies in terms of planning advice, overheads and contacts.

The team collaborated on a Workshop/Seminar delivered at Castlecomer Discovery Park in conjunction with the County Development Board.

At the launch of Invest Kilkenny, the establishment of a Third Level Education and Research Development centre was announced. Extensive work has been completed on gutting and remodelling the facility at St. Kieran's College to house the new research and innovation centre. This centre, which will focus on next generation internet services and develop relationships with existing companies in Kilkenny and the South east region, is a joint venture between the Kilkenny Local Authorities and W.I.T/Telecommunication Software and Systems Group (T.S.S.G) is being rolled out by the research team in 2012.

The new research centre marks the continued growth of WIT's highly successful TSSG group and greatly enhances the academic profile of Kilkenny, consolidating the county's value offering as a centre of innovation and creativity.

Further to the Harvest 2020 strategy, a high level food group was established with representatives from the sector including Glanbia, Dawn Meats, Brett Brothers, Connolly Red Mills, Oldtown Bakeries and Leader. This group has been developing four areas, namely expansion of the milk supply post 2015, food sustainability, improved routes to market for S.M.E's and exploring the development of a food excellence centre.

A technical working group has also been established with representatives of Teagasc, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Dept. of Agriculture, the Dept. of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the River Basin Catchment Management Team and the Council to examine environmental management issues. This group liaised at a national level with Dept. of Agriculture and River Catchment Management, with Kilkenny will designated a pilot programme.

A new waste water treatment facility was completed funded by IDA Ireland, Kilkenny County Council and the Department of Environment Heritage and local government at a cost of €13m. The Belview Strategic Water Supply provides for 725,000 gallons of water per day primarily for industrial and enterprise use. This compliments Waterford City Council's recently opened new wastewater treatment plant at Gorteens which cost €37 million and has substantial reserve capacity.

The business support unit directly supported tourism as an economic partner and provided IT and administrative staff to support Kilkenny Tourism initiatives.

The Belview Strategic Water Supply scheme was completed. The scheme is designed to help attract new investment into the deep sea port.

Bellview Waste Water Treatment Facility