West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy Prepared By: RPS Planning & Environment Commissioned By: West Cork Islands Interagency Group Founding Initiative: Cork County Development Board Cover and Graphics: Orla Leland West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy Chairperson’s Introduction West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy Island Quotations West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy Table of Contents Page Executive Summary..............................................................................................8 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................1 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................1 1.2 Cork County Development Board and the West Cork Islands Interagency Group ..........1 1.3 Methodology ............................................................................................3 1.4 Focus .....................................................................................................4 1.5 Key Principles ..........................................................................................6 1.6 Structure ................................................................................................7 2.0 CURRENT SITUATION AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT ..............................................8 2.1 Location and Setting...................................................................................8 2.2 The Role of the West Cork Islands ..................................................................8 2.3 Linkages between the West Cork Islands and the Local Mainland Area......................9 2.4 Interaction and Co-operation between the Islands ..............................................9 2.5 Socio-Economic Profile.............................................................................. 11 2.6 SWOT Analysis ........................................................................................ 13 2.7 Policy Context ........................................................................................ 14 3.0 VISION AND GOALS FOR THE WEST CORK ISLANDS.......................................... 15 3.1 Overall Vision and Key Goals....................................................................... 15 4.0 ISLAND DEVELOPMENT – KEY DRIVERS FOR THE WEST CORK ISLANDS................... 16 4.1 PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................... 16 4.1.1 Introduction.........................................................................................16 4.1.2 Strategic Aim .......................................................................................16 4.1.3 Water, Wastewater, Surface Water and Flooding ...........................................16 4.1.4 Water, Wastewater, Surface Water and Flooding Actions .................................18 4.1.5 Waste Management ................................................................................18 4.1.6 Waste Management Actions ........................................................................ 20 4.1.7 Broadband...........................................................................................21 4.1.8 Broadband Actions................................................................................... 22 4.1.9 Energy ............................................................................................22 4.1.10 Energy Actions........................................................................................ 24 4.1.11 Access ............................................................................................24 4.1.12 Access Actions ........................................................................................ 27 4.1.13 Island Roads and Rural Transport ..................................................................28 4.1.14 Island Roads and Rural Transport Actions ....................................................... 29 4.1.15 Public Realm and the Environment.............................................................29 4.1.16 Public Realm and the Environment Actions..................................................... 30 4.1.17 Landscape ...........................................................................................31 4.1.18 Landscape Actions ................................................................................... 32 4.1.19 Housing ............................................................................................32 4.1.20 Housing Actions ...................................................................................... 34 4.2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................... 36 West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy 4.2.1 Introduction........................................................................................... 36 4.2.2 Strategic Aim ......................................................................................... 36 4.2.3 Agriculture, Fishing, Aquaculture and Food .................................................... 36 4.2.4 Agriculture, Fishing, Aquaculture and Food Actions .......................................... 41 4.2.5 Economic Infrastructure and Enterprise on the Islands ....................................43 4.2.6 Economic Infrastructure and Enterprise on the Islands Actions ..........................46 4.2.7 Tourism ............................................................................................47 4.2.8 Tourism Actions ......................................................................................50 4.2.9 Commercial and Retail Facilities................................................................52 4.2.10 Commercial and Retail Facilities Actions......................................................53 4.3 SOCIAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT............................................................ 55 4.3.1 Introduction...........................................................................................55 4.3.2 Strategic Aim..........................................................................................55 4.3.3 Island Population.....................................................................................55 4.3.4 Island Population Actions...........................................................................56 4.3.5 Developing the Community Resource through Establishment of a West Cork Islands Community Council...................................................................................56 4.3.6 West Cork Islands Community Council Actions ..................................................59 4.3.7 Retaining and Developing Agency Support for the West Cork Islands.......................59 4.3.8 Retaining and Developing Agency Support Actions .............................................60 4.3.9 Health Services........................................................................................60 4.3.10 Health Services Actions..............................................................................62 4.3.11 Emergency Services ..................................................................................63 4.3.12 Emergency Services Actions ........................................................................64 4.3.13 Educational Facilities ................................................................................65 4.3.14 Educational Facilities Actions ......................................................................67 4.3.15 Childcare 68 4.3.16 Childcare Actions .....................................................................................68 4.3.17 Community Facilities, Community Development and Other Public Services ..............68 4.3.18 Community Facilities, Community Development and Other Public Services Actions ....71 4.3.19 Sporting and Social Facilities and Activities .....................................................72 4.3.20 Sporting and Social Facilities and Activities Actions ...........................................73 4.3.21 Social Inclusion ........................................................................................74 4.3.22 Social Inclusion Actions ..............................................................................74 4.4 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT....................................................................... 76 4.4.1 Introduction........................................................................................... 76 4.4.2 Strategic Aim ..........................................................................................76 4.4.3 Island History and Traditions .......................................................................76 4.4.4 Island History and Traditions Actions .............................................................77 4.4.5 Architectural Heritage, Archaeology and National Monuments ..............................77 4.4.6 Architectural Heritage, Archaeology and National Monuments Actions ....................79 4.4.7 Maritime and Marine Heritage......................................................................79 4.4.8 Maritime and Marine Heritage Actions............................................................80 4.4.9 Military History ........................................................................................81 West Cork Islands Integrated Development Strategy 4.4.10 Military History Actions ..............................................................................82