Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study
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Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study On Behalf of Kilmore Quay Community Development Association Ltd. Supported By: Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Issue Date: June 2018 For further information on this study contact: Jim Moore, Chairman, Kilmore Quay Community Development Association Ltd. Kilmore Quay, County Wexford. Disclaimer: While reasonable care has been taken in carrying out this study, the authors shall take no responsibility and accept no liability whatsoever for any inaccuracy, errors or omissions or for the consequences arising from the use of the information in this study. © Kilmore Quay Community Development Association Ltd. Prepared by: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgements The Kilmore Quay Community Development Association Ltd (KQCDA) would like to express their sincere appreciation to everyone in the village who supported this initiative thus making the compilation of this study possible. KQCDA would also like to acknowledge particular thanks to the following: John Hickey, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) who provided the grant aid under the EU FLAG Programme to support the compilation of this five-year feasibility study. Wexford County Council (WCC) who provided advice and assistance throughout this project. Particular thanks are given to Tom Enright, Chief Executive, Tony Larkin, Director and Ger Mackey, Chief Officer. We would also like to acknowledge the advice and guidance that was so kindly shared by all those who participated in interviews; completed household surveys; attended public information events or gave us feedback on the initiatives that emerged from this research. In particular, a special mention must be given to John Nunn and his staff who so kindly assisted in the preparation of the Stella Maris Centre for the public meetings. In addition, we are very grateful to the committee members Jim Moore, John Nunn and Michael Maguire who guided the preparation of this report over the last six months. In addition, the support of the committee members in the distribution and collection of the household surveys was invaluable. Finally, we would like to thank Tony Ennis, Dr Ronan O’Flaherty and Dr. Yvonne Byrne for their support and guidance throughout this process and in the compilation of this study. This report is a result of hard work over 8 months and its success will be judged by the subsequent implementation of projects over the next five years. It will also need the continued support of everyone in Kilmore Quay and its environs to continue to contribute their ideas as the details of the study are executed and to assist in the development of these initiatives. We hope that the result will be a community that we can all continue to be very proud to be part of and that this will have a positive benefit for all who live in Kilmore Quay and the surrounding villages. This project has been funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the European Union under the National Development plan 2014-2020 through the sustainable development of the fishery dependent Area measures. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Contents Page Page Executive Summary…………………………………....5 Section 1 Introduction……………………………………………...15 Section 2 Socio-Economic Trends……………………………..18 Section 3 Asset Audit………………………………………………..30 Section 4 Community Consultation…………………………..38 Section 5 Concepts……………………………………………………55 Section 6 Strategic Assessment, Conclusions and Recommendations…………………………………….68 Section 7 Action Plan……………………………………………….112 Section 8 Strategic Partners & Funding Opportunities…………………………………………..120 Appendices………………………………………………123 _____________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Executive Summary _____________________________________________________________________________________ 5 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction The consulting team were tasked with carrying-out a feasibility study for Kilmore Quay and its environs on behalf of the Kilmore Quay Community Development Association (KQCDA). This study focused on three dimensions: Tourism; Economy; and Community. The basis for the study recommendations was based on wide ranging public consultation; a register of assets in the locality; desktop research; analysis of socio-economic statistics and site visits. In preparing our recommendations, the objective of identifying 10 new projects for this locality, including 3 major new tourism activities, has been to the fore. Other components that required consideration in this feasibility study included recommendations on how to build capacity within the community; signposting to relevant grants; and preparation of an Action Plan. The Context Kilmore Quay is a strategically important village in County Wexford, as it is the major fishing harbour in the county. Currently the landed overall catch in Kilmore Quay is utilised in a number of ways – landed and shipped elsewhere; boxed & sold; or value added processed. The BIM 2017 report ‘The Business of Seafood’ identified the landings at Kilmore Quay at a value of €11m and the Volume of landing tonnes at 4,300. BIM’s recently launched (May 2018) ‘Statement of Strategy 2018-2020 – Enabling Sustainable Growth‘ also signposts the national and international opportunities in the years ahead which Kilmore Quay has the potential to capitalise on. Improved sewerage In addition, Kilmore Quay is a significant destination for domestic and capacity will allow a overseas visitors, with a number of major festival events held annually. new development of a scale and range There is huge potential to further capitalise on this area’s unique not previously natural heritage, and grow the tourism industry over the next five possible years. However, development opportunities in Kilmore Quay have been curtailed in recent years, due to the lack of sewerage capacity in the village, which has restricted potential new housing, tourism or economic activity. Nevertheless, it is foreseen that a new sewerage treatment plant will be constructed in Kilmore Quay over the next few years that will then allow for more development opportunities to be progressed in the village. It is therefore vitally important to have a comprehensive study in place, which clearly articulates the strategic direction for the community, tourism and economic sectors in this village. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 6 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Demographics CSO data trends over the last ten years (2006, 2011, 2016) for the electoral districts of Killag and Kilmore tell an interesting story. The population of 2,694 people (990 families) living in the districts has only marginally increased from 2011, but the number of older people (over 65 years) has almost doubled from 244 to 438. The number of people living with a disability has also increased dramatically, from 210 to 392. On the other hand, the number of children (under 15 years) in the area has remained stable (just under 600). In common with other areas of the county, unemployment has fallen significantly but with some 214 people recorded as seeking work in 2016 the rate is still slightly higher than the county average. The Pobal Deprivation Index also classifies the Killag and Kilmore Electoral Districts as marginally below average in 2016. Some 92 households were recorded as having no car in 2016, which underline the importance of access to good public transport. CSO stats reveal significant decline in unemployment since 2011 but the rate is still slightly higher than the county average Change in unemployment rates by electoral division, 2011- 2016 One of the most interesting statistics to emerge from the 2016 census was the number of properties recorded as vacant. A total of 1,378 permanent dwellings were recorded, of which 391 houses were vacant. This represents nearly 30% of the total housing stock in this area. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 7 Kilmore Quay & Environs Feasibility Study _____________________________________________________________________________________ What are our assets? Our analysis of the asset-base revealed an interesting mix, all offering real potential for development and growth, and some barely touching that potential at all. The following ‘strength- analysis’ summarises our impression of the area’s assets (strength increasing with colour depth). Enterprise and Community are well developed in the area and represent a very strong foundation for further development in their own right and as a basis for fostering development in other areas. Good work has been done in the design and development of some very high-quality festivals, while the food and beverage offering plays to the strengths of the area’s natural resources.