Limerick and Clare Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy June 2013 Prepared by Limerick Institute of Technology for Clare County Council, Limerick City Council , Limerick County Council and the Mid-West Regional Authority 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................... 4 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 15 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ........................................................................................................................... 16 REVIEW OF CURRENT PLANS AND STRATEGIES ............................................................................................................. 16 THEMES THAT EMERGED FROM THESE REVIEWS ........................................................................................................... 17 DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION AND CURRENT FACILITIES .............................................................................................. 19 OUTCOMES OF CONSULTATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 19 REVIEW OF GAPS AND OVER-PROVISION ................................................................................................................... 21 STRATEGIC APPROACH ........................................................................................................................................... 22 IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY................................................................................................................................. 22 IMPACT OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND THE HABITATS DIRECTIVE ASSESSMENT SCREENING ................ 24 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 28 1.1 OBJECTIVES OF STRATEGY .......................................................................................................................... 30 1.2 AREA UNDER CONSIDERATION .................................................................................................................... 31 1.3 ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED...................................................................................................... 33 1.4 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 33 1.5 THE STRATEGY AND THE LAND-USE PLANNING PROCESS .................................................................................. 41 1.6 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS ....................................................................................... 42 1.7 HABITATS DIRECTIVE ASSESSMENT SCREENING PROCESS .................................................................................. 42 2. REVIEW OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ....................................................................................................... 44 2.1 PARTICIPATION RATES ............................................................................................................................... 44 2.2 POPULATION REQUIRED FOR SUSTAINABLE FACILITY........................................................................................ 50 3. REVIEW OF CURRENT PLANS AND STRATEGIES ...................................................................................... 53 3.1 NATIONAL PLANS ..................................................................................................................................... 53 3.2. REGIONAL PLANS ..................................................................................................................................... 55 3.3. COUNTY AND CITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS ..................................................................................................... 59 3.4. CITY AND COUNTY SPORTS STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................ 71 3.5. MAJOR SPORTING BODY STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................... 77 3.6 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................................... 81 3.7 IMPLICATION OF REVIEWS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND STRATEGIES .......................................... 83 4. SPATIAL DATA ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 88 4.1 RESIDENT POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ......................................................................................................... 88 4.2 VISITOR POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................................................ 88 4.3 DISTRIBUTION OF CURRENT MAJOR FACILITIES............................................................................................... 91 4.5 REVIEW OF GAPS AND OVER-PROVISION .................................................................................................... 105 5. STRATEGY ............................................................................................................................................ 107 5.1 KEY PRINCIPLES ...................................................................................................................................... 107 5.1.1. THRESHOLD AND RANGE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING –................................................................................ 107 1 Limerick and Clare Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy June 2013 5.1.2. DISTRIBUTION OF FACILITIES ................................................................................................................. 108 5.1.3. PROVISION FOR THE NEEDS OF TOURISTS AND OTHER VISITORS TO THE AREA .................................................. 108 5.1.4. IMPORTANCE OF ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES .............................................................................................. 108 5.1.5. OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL SCALE CENTRE IN THE AREA ..................................... 108 5.2 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 108 5.3 STRATEGIC POLICIES ............................................................................................................................... 110 6. IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY ........................................................................................................... 118 6.1 IMPLEMENTATION ELEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 118 6.2 FIRST IMPLEMENTATION STEPS ................................................................................................................. 124 7. IMPACT OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND HABITATS DIRECTIVE ASSESSMENT SCREENING .................................................................................................................................................. 127 7.1 CONDITIONS ARISING FROM THE SEA ........................................................................................................ 127 8. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 130 2 Limerick and Clare Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy June 2013 AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 3 Limerick and Clare Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy June 2013 Aims and Objectives The main aim of the Limerick and Clare Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy is to develop a framework to coordinate the objectives and targets of key stakeholders in a cohesive and integrated plan for the area and to work together in ensuring the provision, management and use of quality facilities and services for everyone, including future generations. Through the strategy, county and city councils and other key stakeholders can work together to determine key recreational priorities for the region and to demonstrate commitment, cooperation and shared vision in developing sport and physical recreational opportunities for all, with an improvement in the health and overall quality of life of those who live and work in the area as well as those who visit it as the ultimate aim. The objectives which are addressed in this strategy are as follows - The development of a set of goals and objectives for the provision of sporting and physical recreation facilities in the area The preparation of an analysis of the existing provision within the focus area and adjacent areas A review of the population necessary to support different types of facilities A review of current and projected future population within the relevant areas The identification of any gaps or excess in the provision of larger-scale facilities The identification