KildareNet News

KILDARE GENERAL, 25 March 2002: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A 10-year 'Vision and Action' plan for County Kildare launched last night by minister for finance Charlie McCreevy TD (above with Kildare County Council chairman John O'Neill) is the result of two years of consultation with the county's local authorities, major public service providers, local development departments and community organisations.

'Kildare 2012' is described as 'an economic, social and cultural strategy' for the development of Kildare, and focusses on six key thematic areas - Transport & Communications; New Settlement Patterns; A County of Contrasts; Environmental Issues; Education, Training and Capacity Building; and Developing a Sennse of Place. The plan has been produced by the Kildare County Development Board and was launched at the Riverbank Centre in Newbridge.


Newbridge Town Council chairman Ray O'Brien and Kildare County Manager Niall Bradley, at the launch of 'Kildare 2012'.

The 'strategy' part of the plan sets out the vision, goals and objectives of the KCDB, based on a set of principles drawn up in July 2000, as part of a consultation programme which began five months earlier. These principles ecompassed cooperation, responsibility, social inclusion, flexibility, community involvement, dialogue, expectations, statutory and voluntary participation, value for money, and commitment to change.

Following almost two years of consultation, the 'action' part of the plan sets out almost 400 specific actions, 73 of which will be carried out during the first three years of the plan. The balance will be 'put on hold' and looked at again at the first review of the plan at the end of those three years.


	Senator Sean O Fearghaill and Athy Town Council's Frank English.

Among the primary actions, which are grouped under the central themes, are the establishment of a county-wide group to 'coordinate and maximise' urban and rural transport services and infrastructure; a review of the elements and processes of drafting county, town, village and local area plans; the coordination of a team to deliver local capacity building, support, and counselling services for people experiencing exclusion; the establishment of a Skills Forum to study and link labour market requirements to education and training provision; the provision of a networking programme to help farmers; the introduction of new recycling services; the devising of a non-school youth education and training service; and the identification of unique features of the county and making them resonate with its population.


Willie Carroll, Director of Community & Enterprise

All of the actions have identified 'lead agencies' and 'supporting partner agencies', which have already committed themselves to delivering on the actions.

The plan has been presented as a comprehensive publication, newsletter, poster and CD profile of County Kildare, produced by Wild Ireland, who are based in the former Odlum's Mills in Naas, the headquarters of the Millennium Park promoters.

"Ultimately this is a quality of life issue," says Willie Carroll, Director of Community and Enterprise with Kildare County Council. "We want Kildare to be people's first choice when it comes to living, working and socialising. Our goal is to provide a better quality of life, better quality services, a better quality environment, and to foster equality, inclusion and cooperation."

Finance minister Charlie McCreevy said the CKDB had succeeded in 'highlighting the challenges and opportunities' that exist in Kildare, and have 'presented a map of the way forward'.

"I'm sure there will be challenges ahead of you to find ways to sustain the local coalition you have forged," he said. "It will be no mean feat, but one that I am sure you will rise to."

Kildare County Council chairman John O'Neill said the plan is 'the way forward for Kildare'.