Lorrha Rathcabbin Community Action Plan 2016 – 2019 April 2016 Meeting Place of 3 Parishes, 3 Counties and 3 Provinces. Building a stronger and more integrated community into the future, together. Table of Contents 1. Section One 1.1 Introduction and Methodology 1.2 Process and Framework 1.3 Lorrha Rathcabbin Community Profile 1.4 Current Initiatives 1.5 SCEAL Community Survey 2. Section Two 2.1 Strategic Analysis 2.2 Profile of Key Sites 3. Section Three 3.1 Actions Acknowledgements This Community Action Plan aims to be a guide for community initiative in Lorrha over the next 1 -5 years. The plan was written by Trisha Purcell, North Tipperary LEADER Partnership with assistance from the members of the Lorrha SCÉAL group, and members of the wider community. A number of facilitated workshops were held at Moatfield GAA club house, facilitated by NTLP staff Trisha Purcell and Gearóid Fitzgibbon. The input received at these workshops, along with publically available information from Pobal Maps and the CSO were incorporated into the final draft which was presented to the community for comment. 1. Section One 1.1 Introduction and Methodology The economic and social forecast for Ireland is positive and it is predicted nationally that we are on the road to recovery. Nationally unemployment rates have dropped, job opportunities are improving and quality of life is returning to what is once was. These improvements are slower to reach some areas and in particular rural locations. Whilst Lorrha Rathcabbin has a wealth of highly significant historical and natural heritage there is a sense that this is not being capitalised on to benefit the local community. This plan will record the natural resources for the community whilst looking towards the most sustainable way to develop them. Section 1 of the plan provides an introduction to the plan and its objectives. It includes a discussion on Process and Framework and provides a brief socio economic/demographic profile of the parish. It also examines current initiatives underway locally. Section 2 makes up the bulk of the document and seeks to record the key sites and interest points throughout the parish. A strategic analysis seeks to illustrate graphically how the parish could work together to counter the pull factors out of the area towards surrounding town centres. The maps and text analyse each site, explores opportunities and examines some of the limiting factors currently in place. Section 3 gives details of the actions that have been developed as part of the plan. There are a number of initiatives that are currently underway that have taken the first steps towards realising the potential of Lorrha Rathcabbin, our main objective will be to build on this work over the next 3-5 years. This Community Plan process seeks to highlight aspects of the parish that are unique and worthy of showcasing. The process will assist with the development of a series of achievable and realistic actions to enable local community groups within the parish to progress. The plan will belong to the community. If used correctly it will assist in leveraging funding from a variety of sources to achieve goals. The plan will also be a way to communicate to agencies that Lorrha Rathcabbin is serious about upping visitor numbers to the parish, showcasing their unique cultural and natural heritage and reaping the socio economic benefits that this will brings to a small rural community. 1.2 Process and Framework Steps followed in the development of the Action Plan are outlined below: 1. Introductory meeting with community representatives in Rathcabbin village to explore areas of focus for the project and existing initiatives currently underway. 2. Desktop study and familiarisation with geography, physical layout and general environment of the parish. Identification of some of the features and assets of the parish along with possible areas of weakness in the community. 3. One on one and small group meetings with community representatives. Site visits to Redwood Bog, Little Brosna Callows, Lakeen Castle, Redwood Castle, Lorrha Ecclesiastical Village, The Stolen Railway, Lorrha Community Hall etc: 4. Preparation of DRAFT Community Action Plan for distribution and comment to all interested parties. 5. Facilitated workshop session with the community to critique the plan, identify gaps and enable feedback on future actions. Assign key actions to willing parties. 6. Launch of Lorrha Rathcabbin Community Action Plan 2016. 1.3 Lorrha Rathcabbin Community Profile The parish of Lorrha Rathcabbin is located in a central position nationally and in the very northern section of County Tipperary close to the Offaly and Galway borders. A short section of Lough Derg bounds the parish to the west. The topography within the parish is gently undulating with large areas of lowland wetlands associated with the River Shannon, River Little Brosna and Lough Derg. A national route passes through the south western part of the parish, the N65 that links Nenagh with Galway. The parish is dissected by two regional roads running north south and east west, the R438 and R489 respectively. A large amount of vehicular traffic passes through the parish via the national and regional routes. According to the 2011 Census the population of the parish of Lorrha Rathcabbin is 1712. Age Range 0-12 13-18 19-24 25-44 45-64 64+ Persons 301 132 100 412 474 293 The most interesting aspect of the age profile is that 293 people in the parish are over the age of 64. This represents over 17% of the population. When compared to the county rate (13%) this is high. The unemployment rate in the overall parish of Lorrha Rathcabbin in 2011 was 15.9%, this is lower than the national unemployment rate at the time of 19%. The Pobal Deprivation Index is a method of measuring the relative affluence of disadvantage of a particular geographical area using data compiled from various censuses. A scoring is given to the area based on a national average of zero and ranging from approximately -35 (being the most disadvantaged) to +35 (being the most affluent). Review of the following aspects helps to inform the score: - population change - age dependency - lone parents ratio - Primary education only - third level education - unemployment rates and - proportion of local authority rented housing Lorrha Rathcabbin Deprivation Index Map Looking at the parish as a whole there are no major causes for disadvantage or deprivation in the parish. Statistically Lorrha Rathcabbin is comparable to the County Tipperary and nationally during the time of the last census in 2011. The parish of Lorrha Rathcabbin is measured as being ‘marginally below average’ or ‘marginally above average’, this is in line with the rest of Tipperary and national expectations. There is one small area 217123002 Lorrha East that is classified as disadvantaged and it is worth looking at in more detail. Small Area 217123002 Lorrha East has a deprivation score of – 10.4 and is measured as ‘disadvantaged’. The population of this area is 166, 84 or just over 50% are considered dependent as they are under the age of 24 (42 people) or over the age of 64 (42 people). 33 people or nearly 20% have a disability and are also dependent. The unemployment rate in this area was 30% for males in 2011 and 22% for females in the same year which is very high compared to the national average of 19% in the same year. The population change in this area between 2006 and 2011 reduced by 7.8%. There are a number of social housing units located in this area of the parish. The 2011 Census returned that nearly as many local households used peat and turf as used oil for their home heating (211 out of 495 households in the Electoral Divisions of Lorrha East,Lorrha West, Rathcabbin, Graigue and Redwood) . This is significant in light of the ban on turfcutting in the local bogs. It is important that efforts are made to assist these households to switch to other fuel sources, especially those experiencing fuel deprivation. In summary, it is important that the Community Action Plan ensure supports exist for those who need it in the parish of Lorrha Rathcabbin. Understanding the socio economic profile of the area provides suggestions as to where projects would be best placed to full fill the needs of the community at large. 1.4 Current Initiatives There are a number of current initiatives being undertaken in the parish that are a strong start to attracting visitors to the locality and providing opportunities to the local community. The following is a summary of the activities and what has been achieved to date and should be built on. - Sceal Lorrha Rathcabbin – A parish group formed in June 2015 called S.C.É.A.L. (Social Community Enterprise for the Advancement of Lorrha/Rathcabbin). Sceal is the Irish for story and Lorrha Rathcabbin has a story to tell to visitors and locals alike. The formation of the group arose as a response to the everyday challenges of our rural community. How do we promote the parish as an interesting and inspiring place to visit and live? This group aims to promote the entire parish as a whole, working with a broad range of organizations and with neighbouring parishes. Social and economic benefits for the whole community is their main goal and to make this happen through various sectors such as sport, crafts, heritage, history, tourism, small businesses and agriculture. The group is focused on setting up a heritage centre/community shop as a hub to promote the parish as a whole. The dual purpose of this centre would be to attract tourists to the parish and act as a focal point for local people to meet.