County Carlow 2021 Local Economic & Community Plan 2016-2021 1 Contents Acknowledgements 3 Foreword 4 Section 1: Introduction & Background 5 9 Guiding Principles of Local Economic & Community Plan 10 Local Economic & Community Plan Governance 13 Economic Development & Carlow County Council 14 Community Development & Carlow County Council 15 Consultative & Participative Planning 16 Holistic Approach 18 Regional context Local Context – Planning and Development Framework 18 Policy Context 19 Section 2: Socio-Economic Profile 20 21 Economic overview 30 Demographics 32 Education 34 Housing 35 Disadvantage Section 3: LECP Development Process 42 Section 4: SWOT Analysis 46 47 Living in County Carlow 53 Doing Business & Working in County Carlow 60 Education, Upskilling & Professional Development 63 Visiting County Carlow 74 Underpinning Infrastructure Section 5: Action Plan 80 Section 6: Implementation, Monitoring & Measurement 126 Appendices 128 Baseline Data Reference 129 Public Consultation Process 131 Mainstream & Other Specialist Services (Acronyms) 158 2 Acknowledgments Inclusion Planning is an essential element in modern society and Carlow LCDC & Carlow County Council acknowledges the various contributors to this publication which sets out a vision for County Carlow in terms Economic & Community Development. From the various members of the public who made submissions to organisations who facilitated submissions and actions on behalf of their communities, we thank you for helping us build a framework for Community & Economic Development Planning in County Carlow In particular Carlow Local Community Development Committee acknowledge the Steering Group for the LECP which comprised of: Andrea Dalton Carlow LCDC (St. Catherine’s Community Services Centre Ltd) Arlene O’Connor Planning Department – Carlow County Council Bernie O’Brien Director of Services - Carlow County Council Declan Doyle IT Carlow Fiona Dunne Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board Helen Martin Carlow College Kieran Comerford Head of Enterprise - Carlow County Council Mary Walsh Carlow LCDC (Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd) Michael Brennan Chief Officer – Carlow LCDC Michael Doran Chair of SPC for Economic Development, Enterprise Support & Planning. Seamus O’Connor Director of Services - Carlow County Council 3 Foreword We live in exciting, challenging and changing times. How we prepare for and manage the future will greatly influence our lives and the lives of future generations. The expansion and strengthening of local authority functions in economic development and local community development is an important means to advance the overarching purpose of local government. The newly established Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) is the primary vehicle for the coordination of local and community activity within the administrative area of Carlow County Council. The preparation of this Local Economic & Community Plan was the responsibility of Carlow County Council and Carlow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). The Plan aims to improve the well-being of the people and economy of County Carlow through enhanced strategic planning, targeting of resources and more meaningful impacts for local communities. It will provide the strategic framework for all publicly funded economic, local and community development programmes in the County with the objective of maximizing the social, community, cultural, sporting and economic development of County Carlow on a regional level. The LECP provides an ambitious, yet achievable, Economic and Social Vision for County Carlow, with living and workable actions and ongoing monitoring and appraisal. We would like to thank all involved in the preparation of this Plan, it is through this ongoing co-operation that we can endeavour to achieve the living and workable actions as set out in the Plan. Whilst ambitious, this Economic and Social Vision for County Carlow is achievable. We look forward with confidence to the delivery of the Local Economic and Community Plan. Cathaoirleach Chief Executive Eamonn Moore Carlow County Council Carlow County Council Chairperson LCDC 4 Section 1: Introduction & Background 5 Introduction and Background The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides a stronger and clearer role for local government in economic and community development. This is a key element in achieving the vision set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government – Putting People First “local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level, leading economic, social and community development” Section 44 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for the making of a six year integrated Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). The plan will set out the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of the County and is the primary mechanism at local level to bring forward relevant actions arising from measures under the Action Plan for Jobs and the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA). The Plan is consistent with the Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 and subsequently with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RESE’s) to be prepared by the Regional Assemblies in 2016, the County Carlow Development Plan 2015-2021, the Council’s Corporate Plan 2014-2019 and current Government Policy in relation to economic and social inclusion. Europe 2020 is the EU’s growth strategy for the coming decade. The priorities for the strategy are that Europe will become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy and therefore deliver high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion to each member state. 6 Five headline targets have been set at EU level focusing on the areas of employment, research and development, climate change, education and poverty. Ireland has committed to achieving these targets and they are outlined in the National Reform Programme Ireland April 2015, as follows: Poverty: that by 2020, The number experiencing “consistent poverty” (who Employment: that by 2020, the are both at risk of poverty and employment rate among 20-64 year olds experiencing basic deprivation be will rise to 69-71%. reduced to 4% by 2016 (interim figure) and 2% or less of the population by 2020 (6.3% in 2010) Education: that by 2020, 200,000 less people will be living in combined poverty (either consistent The percentage of 18-24 year olds with at poverty, at –risk –of poverty or basic most lower secondary education or less deprivation) and not in further education and training be reduced to 8% Research and Development: that by The percentage of 30 -34 year olds who 2020, Research and Development, have completed third level education will between Public and Private Expenditure, be at least 60% will be 2.0% of GDP or 2.5% of GNP. Climate Change and Energy: that by 2020, Greenhouse gas emissions in the non-trade sector be reduced by 20% compared to 2005 levels. The share of renewables in final energy consumption to increase to 16% Energy efficiency, in terms of “Primary Energy” will have increased to 20% 7 Local Government has a significant impact on the overall economy, accounting for an estimated €5.4 billion between capital (€1.2 billion) and current (€4.2 billion) expenditure in 2014. It exerts a major influence on the local economy as provider, enabler, procurer or regulator in a range of matters such as delivery of infrastructure, planning, as well as directly providing jobs. In addition to this significant impact on economy activity, in the future, economic development must, of itself, be regarded as a “mainstream” local authority function alongside its more traditional roles. Local Authorities have also played a strong role in community development through the provision of community services/facilities, such as libraries, recreation, arts and amenity facilities and services, estate management, tidy towns, Pride of Place and the operation of community labour activation schemes, such as ‘Gateway’, often in partnership with key local stakeholders. These are important and rich interventions that help build social capital and have been a fundamental part of the role local government has played in local community development to date. The establishment of the Public Participation Network structure in the County provides an opportunity to create a greater synergy between local government and local and community development and will place local and community development at the heart of local government. The expansion and strengthening of local authority functions in economic development and local community development provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014 is an important means to advance the overarching purpose of local government, as highlighted in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government – Putting People First, “to promote the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities”. The newly established Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), is the primary vehicle for the coordination of local and community activity within the administrative area of Carlow County Council. The Plan aims to improve the well-being of the people and economy of Carlow through enhanced strategic planning, better targeting of resources and more meaningful impacts for local communities. It provides the strategic framework for all publicly funded economic, local and community development programmes in the County with the objective of