Kildare 2012 - An Economic, Social and Cultural Strategy
Back to Contents Page
What's Facing Kildare in 2000?
The trends and developments in the county can be divided into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). This SWOT analysis table clearly sets out the main influences and issues for the county which should be taken into account and for which potential responses are later drawn up.
| Strengths - the Present |
Weaknesses - the Present |
- Strength and diversity of economic base.
- Strategic location as a gateway to and from Dublin.
- Highly developed national transport infrastructure.
- Small/traditional communities.
- Third level university at Maynooth.
- Bloodstock industry.
- Unique natural environmental features.
- Good quality, clean environment.
- Strong sense of identity and loyalty.
- Positive external image of the county.
- High quality educational system
|
- Changes in the farming industry
- Labour and skills mismatch.
- Negative effects of the overspill from Dublin.
- Mismatch between levels of growth and infrastructural supply.
- Fragmenting communities.
- Imbalanced development in the county.
- Mismatch between levels of housing and provision of social/recreational facilities.
- Poorly developed local transport systems.
- Inadequate childcare provision.
- Rapidly changing sense of identity.
- Lack of integration of new residents.
- Lack of access and under-provision of educational facilities.
- Tensions created by the influence of Dublin on the sense of place in the county
|
| Opportunities - the Future |
Threats - the Future |
- Strengthening the existing economic base.
- Streamlining of agriculture.
- Building integrated communities.
- Balancing county development.
- Implementation of the County Housing Strategy.
- Developing social and community bonds
- Youth development.
- Improved access to social, cultural and educational opportunities.
- Potential of ICT and broadband
technologies.
- Protecting and capitalising on the
environment and natural resources.
- Building a new county identity.
- Enhancing mainstream education through partnerships with the ‘non-formal’ sector
- Linking education to employment and industry in order to create a highly skilled workforce.
- Potential of the National Development Plan
- Community participation in decision making.
- The new sense of identity embracing the positive aspects of the influence of Dublin
|
- Imbalance between overseas and indigenous companies.
- Threats to the environment from development and decreasing agricultural activity.
- Ill effects of rapid and continuing development.
- Effects of loss of Objective 1 status.
- Failure to build integrated communities.
- Pressures on education due to changing demography.
- Continued lack of facilities for social, community and cultural activities.
- Continued inequalities in access to services – economically, social and
culturally.
- Challenge to secure resources to meet fast growing demand
|
Key Challenges & Potential Responses for this Strategy
The table below sets out the key challenges and their consequences currently
experienced in Kildare. The table is based on the main conclusions of the
analysis set out on the previous pages. The potential responses to these
challenges and consequences are also set out and are dealt with under the six Key Themes as appropriate. Through this Strategy these responses will be made, making Kildare a better place for everyone to live, learn, work, visit and do business.
| Key Challenges |
Consequences |
Responses |
| Location close to Dublin |
- Rapid growth and
development
- Increased commuting
and loss of community
cohesion
- Increased focus on regional development.
|
- Improve the quality of life in Kildare to make it an attractive place for people to live, learn, work, visit and do business
- Ensure that specific groups are not overlooked in this time of growth and change
- Create opportunities for people to live, work and contribute to life locally
- Cope with pressure and over-spill
- Develop Kildare’s role in balanced regional development
|
| Population Growth and Pressure |
- Increasing numbers
of residents
- Increasing demand
for and on public
services
- Increasing pressure
on the environment
- Increasing traffic on
our roads
- Increasing demand
for housing
|
- Cope with pressure on the environment, land, infrastructure and social services
- Balance development throughout the county
- Rebuild the county identity to integrate new and long established residents
- Increase local access to and co-ordinate the provision of services in the county
- Create new approaches and thinking towards waste
management and the environment
- Safeguard the environment through sustainable development practices
- Manage transport infrastructure and services to cater for demand
- Plan and provide for the integrated development of housing and other physical infrastructure
|
| Economic Change |
- Need to maintain
our strong economic position and employment
creation
- Opportunities offered by new technologies
- Consequences of
agricultural decline
|
- Maintain economic progress by making Kildare an attractive place for business to expand, locate and set up in
- Maintain and continue to develop a highly skilled workforce
- Increase the use of ICTs for the public and for business
- Support rural communities and their development
|
Slow Pace of Social and Cultural Development
|
- Continuing social
exclusion
- Increasing demand
for education
- Increasing numbers
of new residents
- Demand for social
and recreational activities
- Reduced civic
involvement
|
- Target provision towards groups experiencing disadvantage
- Improve access to local services for all people
- Develop a responsive educational system to cater for the demands of all learners
- Integrate communities and create social bonds
- Provide new opportunities for sports, arts and cultural development
- Create opportunities for increased participation in voluntary activities and decision-making
|
In order to respond to these challenges and to secure the future growth of the county, this Strategy sets out a vision for the future and a set of goals and objectives to achieve this vision. The goals of the Strategy are based on the challenges, consequences and responses set out in the table above, while the objectives are those key issues which people felt are most important in achieving a better Kildare.
