As can be seen from the results of the 1996 census, County Kilkenny is still
predominantly a rural county. Sixty eight percent of the population live
in rural areas outside the urban areas of the County. A relatively high
proportion of the workforce is dependant on agriculture (17.5 %) according
to the 1996 census of population.
It has been recognised in the National Development Plan 2000 –
2006 and the subsequent White Paper on rural development that rural areas
need to be able to maintain a fulfilling life for all people living in
rural areas and maintain a vibrant sustainable rural community where individuals
and families have a real choice as to whether to stay in, leave, or move
to rural areas.
Key objectives of the national policy as outlined in the National Development
Plan 2000 – 2006 include, the maintenance of the rural population
both in aggregate numbers and in a balanced spatial distribution, ensuring
the economic and social well being of rural communities and tackling rural
poverty providing the conditions for a meaningful and fulfilling life
for people in rural areas and the achievement of vibrant rural communities
where individuals and families have a choice as to whether to stay in,
leave or move to rural Ireland.
The challenges facing rural communities can be viewed in the context
of changes in
- Population
- Agriculture
- Employment
- Social deprivation
- The environment
The Council is committed to the overall strategy for rural development
as outlined in the National Development Plan and the subsequent White
Paper on rural development.
The Council recognises the need to manage rural change and to guide development
in order to:
a) Maintain and enhance the existing rural community to ensure vibrant
sustainable rural areas.
b) Support the maintenance of a sufficient income and employment opportunities
to allow individuals and families to live with dignity;
c) Allow rural communities to participate effectively in the structures
and decision making processes affecting them in an inclusive way
d) Maintain the cultural identity of the rural communities
e) Ensure that the rural environment will be respected and that development
in rural areas will take place in a sustainable manner.
f) Support initiatives to tackle poverty and social exclusion in rural
areas.
g) Achieve a vibrant and sustainable rural community where individuals
and families have a choice as to whether to stay in, leave, or move to
rural areas.
h) Promote a broad concept of rural development and not one based solely
on agriculture or other dominant natural resource.
The framework within which the Council will seek to achieve these goals
is through the Government’s National and Regional development strategy.
A key element of that strategy is the horizontal integration of programmes
for the delivery of services at local level through the County Development
Board.
8.2.1 Rural
Development Policy |
It will be the Council’s policy;
a) To develop an economic social and cultural development strategy for
the County through the County Development Board in co operation and partnership
with Local Development Bodies the Social Partners and representatives
of relevant State Agencies at local level.
b) To continue with the Councils planned transport infrastructure investment
in National, Regional and local roads on a phased and planned basis to
support rural living and working.
c) To implement the programme for the taking in charge of group water
supply schemes and to continue with the Councils investment programme
for waste water treatment and water supply schemes in the towns and villages
of the County.
d) To improve the attractiveness of the built environment in rural towns
and villages as places in which to work and live and as locations for
industry, services and tourism investment.
e) To protect areas of high amenity from insensitive development and
to provide for the provision of houses for certain categories of people
only as outlined in section 7.8.4 of the Plan.
f) To combat isolation and disadvantage by encouraging the use of information
technology in education and commerce and in the home.
g) To encourage the sustainable development of resources in rural areas
to foster economic development in such sectors as agriculture, tourism
including agri tourism, forestry, farm diversification, and renewable
energy resources.
h) To continue to prepare town, village, and area plans for various parts
of the County in a manner that involves participation through consultation
with the local population.
i) To improve the quality of the built environment of the towns and villages
of the County through the Village Renewal Programme.
j) To co-operate and facilitate the development of rural tourism in the
County and to seek to develop that market from the established and growing
tourism base of Kilkenny City.
k) Encourage the utilisation of natural resources to foster economic
development by expanding rural tourism, developing renewable sources of
energy promoting agri environment measures and the planting of new woodlands.
l) To preserve and retain high quality agricultural land from unsympathetic
development.
m) To limit Urban Generated housing in rural areas in accordance with
section 7.8.4 of the Plan.
n) To support and facilitate local and community based initiatives to
provide rural transport services within the County. This will improve
accessibility and promote social inclusion.
Agriculture is an important part of the economic life of the County.
It is the predominant land use and a significant source of employment.
Over 60% of land within the County is classed as Class 1 and Class 2 soils.
Although agriculture has undergone considerable change under the Common
Agricultural Policy it is the dominant natural resource sector in the
rural economy and although it has been in decline in economic importance
it is still seen as a major economic driver for sustaining, enhancing
and maintaining the rural economy and culture. Alternative income generating
opportunities for off farm activities are vital if rural populations are
to benefit from economic growth.
The Council will support and facilitate agricultural restructuring and
diversification in order to integrate the sector more closely with rural
development, in pursuit of environmental and social objectives.
The County Council through its policies and objectives will support the
measures of the National Development Plan 2000 2006 for Rural Development
on investment by;
a) Supporting improvements in the competitiveness of farm structures,
b) Supporting improvements in the quality of product,
c) Support and facilitating the development of organic farming, horticulture,
horses and deer farming as alternative enterprises.
d) Supporting improvements in farm waste management,
e) Supporting and facilitating better animal welfare,
f) Supporting the implementation of the Rural Environment Protection schemes
g) the development of alternative income generating opportunities from
off farm activities.
It will be the policy of the Council to:
a) liaise with Teagasc in order to prevent pollution from farm activities.
b) Facilitate farm development to meet market and environmental requirements.
c) Require a high standard of design and maintenance in all developments
in rural areas.
d) Support and facilitate the work of Teagasc within the County in promotion
of the rural economy, including agriculture development and rural diversification.
e) Co operate and be proactive with regard to proposals from the Rural
Development Programme and Rural Development Fund in generating opportunities
for off farm employment.
f) To foster and facilitate rural community projects particularly related
to rural diversification
In assessing planning applications for development in rural areas the
Council will have regard to the following documents:
- “Rural Environment Protection Scheme” Agri-Environmental
Specifications January 1999 published by the Department of Agriculture
and Food.
- “Guidelines and Recommendations on the control of Pollution from
farmyard Wastes” published by the Department of Agriculture and
Food,
- the Council’s policy on the protection of aquifers as detailed
in section 4.3 of the Plan
- and other appropriate guidelines which may be published from time to
time.
Ireland has a low percentage of its land under forestry. This is reflected
at County level also. Forestry has direct benefits for the local communities
through the establishment of plantations, in spin off effects in support
services, through industries ranging from woodcraft to industrial processing,
to rural tourism, and enhancing the environment through acting as carbon
sinks thereby assisting in meeting the CO2 obligations under the Kyoto
Protocol.
The Government’s strategy for the development of forestry is to
substantially increase the land area under forestry during the period
of the National Development Plan 2000 – 2006.
It is the policy of the Council to promote the sustainable development
and management of forests and forest lands in a way that maintains their
biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their
potential to fulfil now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic
and social functions, at local national and global levels and that does
not cause damage to other ecosystems.
It is the Council’s objective that Kilkenny participates to the
fullest extent in the projected national growth of the forestry sector
particularly in the development of locally based value added activities.
The Council recognises the importance of forestry its value added potential,
and the opportunities it offers for on farm diversification. To this end
farm forestry which strengthens the local rural economy will be encouraged.
In order to address the spatial implications of such a policy the Council
will prepare an indicative forestry strategy for the County over the period
of the Plan. The strategy will identify areas of opportunity for the creation
of new forests and areas environmentally sensitive to afforestation. It
will provide the context within which consultations on forestry applications
will be assessed.
In the interim, the Council will have regard to “Forestry Development
– Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities” published by
the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
It will be the policy of the Council:
a) To prepare an indicative forestry strategy for the County and to have
regard to this strategy in exercising its development control functions.
b) To encourage a diversity of species in afforestation proposals and
in particular to require a proportion of all new forestry development
to consist of native hardwood species in order to extend the range of
potential end uses and to reduce the potential for adverse impact on the
landscape resulting from monoculture.
c) To encourage the development of farm forestry as a means of promoting
rural diversity and strengthening the rural economy.
d) To encourage public access to forests for amenity and recreation purposes
and the development of amenity forestry projects of local social, economic
and tourism benefit.
The Barrow, Nore and Suir are historically renowned as premier salmon
and coarse fishing rivers in Ireland. The Kings river is also an important
fishing river. Fishing remains as an important natural resource for the
county which has potential for development in its own right and as a resource
for tourism development. Fishing as a resource can assist in the development
of tourism within the county and in rural diversification.
It will be the policy of the Council to;
a) liaise with the Southern Fisheries Board and with Angling Clubs and
to facilitate the Board within the limits of its powers as Planning Authority
in its development programme.
b) To encourage and support initiatives to investigate and improve the
fisheries in co-operation with the Department of the Marine, the Southern
Fisheries Board, community organisations and other relevant bodies.
c) Require that adequate provisions are made to accommodate free upstream
and downstream migration of all fish in development proposals.
d) Continue to take measures to protect streams and rivers from pollution
and will encourage appropriate angling-related tourism, fish farming and
mariculture in the County’s waters. Protection of water quality
will be a consideration in relation to development proposals.
8.4 Extractive
Industries |
The County has a large lead –zinc deposit at Galmoy which was developed
during the period of the last Development Plan. In addition there are
numerous sand and gravel and stone resources within the County currently
in operation.
The Council recognises the importance of extractive industries to the
local and national economy as valuable sources of raw material for industry
in general and the construction industry in particular and as an important
source of employment. The products are the essential building materials
for the provision of housing and infrastructural projects.
The industry is therefore essential to the continued development of the
county and the achievement of the objectives in the National development
Plan. However the industry can have serious detrimental impacts on the
landscape and amenities generally. It can create conflicts with other
land uses such as agriculture and can cause damage to the public road
network.
a) In general it will be the policy of the Council to encourage the development
of extractive industries where it is compatible with the protection of
the landscape, the continued operation of agriculture and the preservation
of amenities generally.
b) It will be the policy of the Council to ensure that all existing and
new extractive industrial development shall be administered and completed
in a manner which will minimise long term environmental damage to the
environment.
c) It will be the policy of the Council to ensure that all existing workings
shall be rehabilitated to suitable land uses and that all future extraction
activities will allow for the rehabilitation of pits and proper land use
management.
The Council will seek to co-operate with the various publics and private
agencies who are transport providers within the County in the provision
of and co ordination of new services and supporting infrastructure. In
particular the Council will support initiatives in rural areas which will
help to improve communications and reduce isolation.
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