3.1: Economic Strategic Objectives

This Section sets out the Strategic Objectives under thematic headings. These headings are clustered under five general headings i.e. Economic, Social and Health, Culture, Environment and Spatial Development and Infrastructure. These Strategic Objectives were developed following the detailed considerations and recommendations of the four Work Groups of the Kerry County Development Board outlined in the work methodology (see paragraph 1.4) and the public consultation process.

Objective

3.1 Economic 3.2 Social and Health 3.3 Culture Heritage & the Irish Language 3.4 Environment & Spatial/Sustainable Development 3.5 Infrastructure

The themes addressed under the Economic Strategies include:

Theme	Strategic Objective No's
Agriculture	EC1 - EC2
Food Industry	EC3 - EC6
Fisheries	EC7- EC8
Research and Development	EC9 - EC10
Enterprise and Foreign Direct Investment	EC11 - EC15
Tourism	EC16 - EC20

The Economic Vision for the County, while recognising the difficulties which lie ahead, focuses on the comparative strengths of the County in areas such as tourism, agriculture, food production, fisheries, sustainable economic development and small enterprise development. Kerry has a particularly strong tourism product but market share is being lost. Access to the West of the Country is a major issue. If this is to be reversed, quality and the control of the growth of the accommodation base in over provided zones must be achieved. The Strategy is high spend as distinct from high numbers.

3.1 Economic Strategies Objectives

Theme:	Agriculture
Strategic Objectives	EC1. EC2. Ensure the number of people in rural and farming communities in County Kerry are maintained as at the present day through improved household incomes. To achieve a sustained improvement of the quality of life in rural communities together with improved access to education and training and improved skills levels.
Sample Indicators	Number of farm families. Analysis of year on year changes in household incomes within the agriculture sector within the South West Region. Number of young entrants to the farming sector. Number of persons in rural areas in skills/reskilling programmes. Numbers on Farm Assist Numbers on farmers represented on the Rural Environment Protection Scheme(REPS)

Theme:	Food Industry
Strategic Objectives	EC3 EC4 EC5 EC6 Develop a strong food marketing brand image for the County ensuring that the food sector benefits from the influx of visitors. Improve the quantity and quality of indigenous food production in the County. Promote the food sector as a vehicle for rural development. Actively promote, encourage and foster the development of small food and organic food production enterprises within the County.
Sample Indicators	Number of large retailers in the County with shop space dedicated to the Kerry food sector. Percentage change in the number of small food and organic food production enterprises

Theme:	Fisheries
Strategic Objectives	EC7 EC8 Develop fisheries into a sustainable, attractive, unified, innovative and progressive industry through management of the fisheries industry. Build the political capacity of the fishing industry, ensuring that it is recognised and supported as the base industry in coastal Kerry.
Sample Indicators	Fish catch landed in Kerry Ports as a percentage of the total national catch. Fish processed as a percentage of total fish landings to ports in the County. (Measured in both weight and value). Value (percentage) of fish catch to Kerry ports as a proportion of the national value. Numbers employed in the fisheries industry and annual output. Number of new jobs created in the fish processing industry (measured annually).

Theme:	Research & Development
Strategic Objectives	EC9 EC10 Foster a climate of research & development and innovation in industry and education. Co-ordinate on a County basis allocation of research and development grants.
Sample Indicators	Level of research and development investment in the County. Amount of research and development grants availed of in the County.

Theme:	Enterprise and Foreign Direct Investment
Strategic Objectives	EC11 EC12 EC13 EC14 EC15 Ensure speedy and effective response mechanisms to attract foreign direct investment and new business start-ups and upskilling. Maximise opportunities for improvements in telecommunications and enhanced e-business. Development of new key strategic enterprise sites in Farranfore (Kerry Airport), Tarbert/Ballylongford in addition to promotion and support of existing sites e.g. Kerry Technology Park, Tralee and the Kerry Technology Institute (KTI), Killarney. Development of rural information technology based enterprises. Identification and development of a range of enterprise incubation units in the County.
Sample Indicators	Average incomes for persons employed in enterprise in the County. Numbers employed in Enterprises. Number of third level graduates employed by Enterprises within the County. Number of new business start-ups on an annual basis. Number of strategic zones identified for enterprise development and number of enterprise start-ups in these zones together with number of new jobs created Number of incubation units in towns Number of social economy projects Percentage change in live register (quarterly) Average disposable income(annually)

Theme:	Tourism
Strategic Objectives	EC16 EC17 EC18 EC19 EC20 Creation of a zonal tourism product base to ensure the spread of economic benefits from tourism throughout the County. Control the growth in the accommodation base in over provided zones in the County. Improve yield of tourism industry by enhancing shoulder and off season product and promotions and addressing the issue of unapproved accommodation. Ensure a real commitment to the delivery of a genuine sustainable tourism product in County Kerry, while protecting the County's landscape and environment. Unify the County's marketing effort by encapsulating the County's core strengths and projecting them to identified target markets.
Sample Indicators	Percentage of overseas visitors who visit County Kerry. Number of repeat visits in the County by visitors from overseas and within the Country. Annual profile of visitors to County Kerry. Annual profile of point of entry of visitors to the County. Annual average occupancy level for hotels and guesthouses. Average spend by overseas visitors and domestic visitors to the County. Percentage of accommodation in the County which is classified as approved accommodation. Analysis of numbers of visitors on an area basis within the County. Tourism satisfaction surveys.

3.2: Social and Health Strategic Objectives

The Social and Health Strategic Objectives address issues under the following themes:

Theme	Strategic Objective No's
Education and Training	SAH1 - SAH8
Equality and Social Inclusion	SAH9 - SAH11
Youth and Children	SAH12 - SAH17
Childcare (Kerry County Childcare Committee)	SAH18 - SAH22
Housing Accommodation (including Social and Affordable Housing)	SAH23 - SAH25
Disability	SAH26 - SAH28
The Older Person	SAH29
Travellers	SAH30 - SAH34
Health	SAH35 - SAH40
The Family	SAH41 - SAH43
Sports and Recreation	SAH44 - SAH47
Rural Isolation and Rural Development	SAH48 - SAH49

Social Inclusion has been an objective of public policy for over a decade. There is widespread acknowledgement that unemployment is a key contributor to social exclusion. However, the National Anti Poverty Strategy recognises that unemployment is not the only contributor but that educational disadvantage, poverty and rural disadvantage also result in social exclusion.

This Strategy has a strong social inclusion focus. Reference was made earlier to the need to "level the playing field". These Strategies are designed to address the social issues in the County, the need for education and training, the recognition that the quality of lifestyle can be achieved through healthy living and the specific recognition of the needs of people in rural areas.

Theme:	Education & Training
Strategic Objectives	SAH1 SAH2 SAH3 SAH4 SAH5 SAH6 SAH7 SAH8 Establish a forum to effectively co-ordinate consultation on the planning and delivery of education and training in Kerry so as to maximise utilisation of these services in the County. Ensure that adults disadvantaged by location have access to education and ensure that adult education is fully inclusive with regard to social grouping and disadvantage. Encourage students to continue in education at primary, post primary, third level and non-formal education. Provide access to all pupils of a full range of senior cycle post primary "programme options" (transition year, leaving certificate vocational programme, leaving certificate applied programme). Encourage youth to consider self-employment as a realistic option through the development of an innovative enterprise culture. Promote delivery of information technology training at different levels to increase awareness and skills. Ensure that the workforce is adequately trained in key sectors to maintain competitive advantage and overcome staff retention issues. Retain a larger percentage of the educated workforce within the County.
Sample Indicators	Percentage of Students continuing from primary to post primary education, and third level education. Number of schools, both primary and post primary with artistic and physical/sports education programmes. Percentage of Kerry Second Level Students who pursue third level education within the County. Percentage of third level graduates from the Institute of Technology (ITT) who secure employment in the County. Adult participation rates in further education. Number of young people who participate in the graduate enterprise programme at the Institute of Technology (ITT) each year Analysis of the educational attainment level of the population in the County. Number of adults sitting leaving certificate Number of apprentices qualifying each year Number and age profile of participants on the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme. Number of young people who participate in full time start your own business courses

Theme:	Equality & Social Inclusion
Strategic Objectives	SAH9 SAH10 SAH11 Identification of barriers to participation and creation of a fair and inclusive society by securing participation and realising outcomes, (through the establishment of a County Equality Committee). Identify and recognise what the barriers to participation actually are and create awareness at all levels of society and the workplace to eliminate discrimination and promote equality for all persons. Influence Government and National Policy through various lobbying measures and develop arrangements for mainstreaming equality issues.
Sample Indicators	Number of public sector and other agencies/organisations etc. in the County which equality proof their strategies and programmes. Level of understanding of the equality and social inclusion themes in the county based on sample survey. Number of agencies delivering social inclusion measures in the county and level of expenditure.

Theme:	Youth & Children
Strategic Objectives	SAH12 SAH13 SAH14 SAH15 SAH16 SAH17 Enable young people to develop in a holistic manner which will allow their development in order to enrich their own lives and those of their community. Address youth issues including underage drinking, drug misuse and sex education in a comprehensive, holistic and long term manner by providing information and awareness. Support the work of the Regional Drugs Task Force. Ensure consistent, sustainable, long term funding for youth work programmes including youth clubs to respond to youth needs. Encourage volunteer involvement in youth, community and sporting activities. Monitor implementation of the National Children's Strategy: "Our Children/Their Lives" with specific reference to the following national goals: Children will have a voice in matters which affect them and their views will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. Children's lives will be better understood: their lives will benefit from evaluation, research and information on their needs, rights and the effectiveness of services. Children will receive quality supports and services to promote all aspects of their development. Develop a county-wide policy on playgrounds and play areas
Sample Indicators	Numbers of youth in the County involved in voluntary work through organisations registered on the County Community & Voluntary Register. Analysis of trends in underage drinking. Level of annual funding for youth work programmes. Implementation of National Children's Strategy to be assessed by international panel established by the Minister for Children. Increase in the number of play and recreational areas in the County Number and type of youth facilities in both Urban and Rural areas

Theme:	Childcare (The following are priorities identified and submitted by the Kerry County Childcare Committee.)
Strategic Objectives	SAH18 SAH19 SAH20 SAH21 SAH22 Increase the number of childcare places and support existing provision, (including the provision of sites to community based childcare services). Collect and disseminate accurate information on all relevant aspects of childcare to parent's childcare providers and the general public in Kerry. Enhance the quality of Childcare in Kerry. Promote childminding as part of a high quality service in the County. Provide further Childcare places for Children with Special Needs.
Sample Indicators	Targets to be published by the Childcare Committee in their action plan.

Theme:	Housing Accommodation (Including social & affordable housing)
Strategic Objectives	SAH23 SAH24 SAH25 Based on the Housing Strategy (2001-2006) the provision of 3,200 social and affordable housing units by 2006. Specifically, the social housing waiting lists to be reviewed annually to determine the housing needs of people with special needs including people with disabilities, Travellers, homeless persons, older persons, single parent families, refugees and asylum seekers. A housing information and advice service to be actively promoted within the County to assist people in making appropriate housing decisions and to provide an early intervention service in housing crisis situations.
Sample Indicators	Number of social and affordable housing units provided annually. Changes in demand for housing based on Local Authority housing waiting lists. Percentage of units which meet the housing needs of people with special needs. Analysis of the provision of housing in rural and urban areas and the extent to which such provision meets demand.

Theme:	Disability
Strategic Objectives	SAH26 SAH27 SAH28 Recognise and remove physical barriers to disability through the implementation of infrastructure improvements in the built environment, both internal and external. Identify, implement and communicate the necessary equality measures to ultimately lead to the inclusion as opposed to integration of people with disabilities in the mainstream of society. Ensure ease of access to employment and recognition of employment as a key to participation and equal citizenship.
Sample Indicators	Number of organisations/agencies in the County which include needs of disabilities in their safety statements. Number of inspections carried out under Part M of the Building Regulations. Number of state agencies which fill their target in relation to the employment of people with disabilities.

Theme:	The Older Person
Strategic Objectives	SAH29 The Board endorses the recommendations in the "Ageing with Confidence" Strategy (October 1999) prepared by the Southern Health Board. Keeping older people well. Supporting the older person at home. Acute care Continuing care
Sample Indicators	Compliance/progress of recommendations contained in the "Ageing with Confidence" Strategy. Number of older persons living at home. Number of older persons living alone. Hospital admissions and causes of hospitalisation.

Theme:	Travellers
Strategic Objectives	SAH30 SAH31 SAH32 SAH33 SAH34 Acknowledge and accept that discrimination exists and challenge it and promote greater awareness of equal status legislation amongst the settled community. Encourage agencies to create employment and self-employment opportunities for Travellers. Promote effective communication of the respective cultures thus ensuring the existence of equality, anti-discrimination and anti-racist ethos and social inclusion within the County. Actively encourage Travellers to become involved in social sport and recreational activities. Provision of choices and availability of accommodation options for Travellers in accordance with five-year assessment of accommodation needs plan (Kerry County Council).
Sample Indicators	Number of agencies/organisations in the County which designate a member of staff to handle anti-discrimination and anti-racist codes of practice within their organisations. Number of work placements for Travellers within Public Bodies. Number of Travellers provided with accommodation either in housing accommodation or serviced residential sites. Number of Travellers on the roadside or unauthorised sites.

Theme:	Health
Strategic Objectives	SAH35 SAH36 SAH37 SAH38 SAH39 SAH40 Seek early diagnosis and access to Services for healthcare. Ensure that appropriate services are delivered at local level particularly to all "at risk" groups. Promote health and healthcare in the County through a topics, settings and population approach. (see glossary) Promote a cultural change regarding health through education, policy development, supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing of personal skills, and reorienting health services. Enable people to make healthy choices, encourage healthy lifestyles and recognise the intrinsic link between sports/fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Assess access to the emergency health services in towns with high tourist populations during the tourism season.
Sample Indicators	Dependency ratio in the County. Number of organisations/agencies in the County which promote and operate employee health and welfare programmes. Analysis of causes of deaths in the County. Number of persons admitted as in-patients/out-patients in Tralee General Hospital. Changes in the number of persons covered by medical cards and comparison with changes in other Health Board areas. Changes in the suicide rate

Theme:	The Family
Strategic Objectives	SAH41 SAH42 SAH43 Ensure the provision of support services to families including intervention and prevention. Recognition of the Family as the basic and most fundamental unit within our society and the development of family friendly policies by all organisations and agencies within the County. Establish integrated infrastructure to support families at local levels on a geographic basis.
Sample Indicators	Number of networks of family and community services established in the County. Changes in Family structures in the County. The number of Family Resource Centres and facilities in those centres.

Theme:	Sports & Recreation
Strategic Objectives	SAH44 SAH45 SAH46 SAH47 Co-ordinate, devise and implement policies which deliver inclusive sustainable sport and recreation infrastructures. Co-ordinate the planning, development and maintenance of sporting and recreational facilities including amenities and the natural environment within the County. Increase participation in and awareness of the benefits of involvement in sports and recreational activities. Develop and support those people who are engaged or who may want to engage in the provision of sports and recreation at all levels.
Sample Indicators	Number of professional and voluntary bodies involved in sports and recreation. Number of sports centres in the County, including membership. Number of new bike paths, walks etc. developed in the County.

Theme:	Rural Isolation & Rural Development
Strategic Objectives	SAH48 SAH49 In a social development, cultural development, economic and environmental context, to consider "people first" and to protect and maintain the "living countryside". In the context of the villages in County Kerry, preserve strengthen and expand the range and scale of community, educational, youth work and social services.
Sample Indicators	Percentage of county population living in rural areas. Numbers of elderly people living in rural areas. Numbers of elderly people with free access to health-care services. Expenditure under the CLÁR Programme in each of the designated rural areas. Number of houses provided in villages. Number of people with disabilities accommodated in their own village. Number of new housing associations established in the County.

3.3: Culture, Heritage and the Irish Language

This Section includes Strategic Objectives under the following themes:

Theme:	Strategic Objective No's
Culture	CH1 - CH8
Heritage
The Arts
The Irish Language

The objectives in this section, together with the objectives being pursued under the rural isolation and rural development theme, promote a respect for rural areas and seek balanced development. In particular, the Strategy recognises that our Culture, Heritage and Irish Language make a contribution which adds significant value within the County and which is an identifying feature for the many people who visit Kerry and particularly who visit Gaeltacht areas within the County.

Theme:	Culture, Heritage and the Irish Language
Strategic Objectives	CH1 CH2 CH3 CH4 CH5 CH6 CH7 CH8 Ensure long term sustainability of quality art and culture through support and grant aid thus progressing art initiatives, community development and access to the arts countywide. Protect, enhance and restore the natural and built heritage of the County through the promotion of a countywide biodiversity strategy whilst recognising the central role of community involvement. Develop a pro-active approach (including on-going monitoring) to built and natural heritage conservation and foster development, education and tourism opportunities. Monitor and create a pro-active approach to developments and in particular those that have a strong potentially negative impact on local landscapes or views Recognise and foster the unique links between the national games and other sports and their contribution to the cultural development of the county. Encourage organisations in the County to ensure the option of availability of services through the medium of Irish in dealing with customers and the public. Ensure that language impact studies on the influence of all major developments schemes or programmes in Gaeltacht areas are carried out as part of the planning process. Public service organisations in the County to assess the impact of their strategies, plans and programmes on the Irish Language throughout the County with particular reference to Gaeltacht areas.
Sample Indicators	Level of funding obtained in the County under the public arts scheme. Level of funding availed of in the County from the Arts Council and other arts grants providers. The percentage of architectural, archaeological and heritage sites which are on a database. Number of purpose built art centres in the County and rate of usage. Number of public service organisations in the County which proof their strategies, plans, programmes for language purposes. Number of library members and usage of Library service. Percentage of population who use Irish on a daily basis. Number of Gael Scoileanna Number of public agencies that have a bilingual service policy

 3.4: Environment and Spatial/Sustainable Development Strategic Objectives

This Section addresses the priorities in the following areas:

Theme:	Strategic Objective No's
The Environment and Spatial Development	ENV1 - ENV5
The Environment and Sustainable Development	ENV6 - ENV10

All of these thematic areas are inextricably linked. The objective is to state and recognise Kerry's position within a national context in both environmental and spatial terms, followed by the identification of the key priorities within the County including the need for balanced development between urban and rural areas, and the protection of the unique landscape of the County.

Theme:	Environment & Spatial Development
Strategic Objectives	ENV1 ENV2 ENV3 ENV4 ENV5 Implement the vision of County Kerry as a functional area under the National Spatial Strategy and the identification of a gateway growth axis within County Kerry. The development of an integrated rural land use development policy by all relevant agencies within the County recognising the importance of the farming community and others in rural areas as key stakeholders within this policy context. To develop a county policy which seeks to balance the positive economic benefits of afforestation with potential environmental impacts with particular reference to impacts on soil, water quality, landscape effects and biodiversity. Preparation of Strategic Planning Studies in each of the electoral areas to inform the planning process and to develop a more coherent understanding of spatial planning within the County. Identification and designation of development zones, with particular reference to the identification of priority locations for industrial and enterprise development within the County.
Sample Indicators	Analysis of number of new households within rural areas in the County as a percentage of total household increases. Level of investment in urban/village renewal projects. Percentage change of land use under forestry Adoption of best forest practice.

Theme:	Environment & Sustainable Development
Strategic Objectives	ENV6 ENV7 ENV8 ENV9 ENV10 Protect the unique landscape of the County whilst supporting sustainable development. Environmental services infrastructure: (i) To minimise the adverse effects of all forms of waste on the environment. (ii) To supply and maintain good quality drinking water in compliance with national and EU Legislation. Environmental Quality: To improve environmental quality by preventing pollution. Environmental Awareness:To raise public awareness of environmental issues by highlighting civic responsibilities and providing opportunities for best practice. To support the farming community as custodians of the environment.
Sample Indicators	Percentage of total waste generated in the County which is consigned to landfill, recycled or reused. Changes in classification of water quality in rivers and lakes. Number of blue flag beaches and marinas. Private housing units classified by water supply. Private housing units classified by sanitary facilities. Changes in amount of litter collected in public areas/street cleaning annually and number of litter fines issued. The percentage reduction in waste tonnage landfilled Percentage of waste recycled Number of additional recycling facilities (measured annually).

3.5: Infrastructure Strategic Objectives

This Section includes Strategic Objectives under the following themes:

Theme:	Strategic Objective No's
Roads and Transportation	INF1 - INF14
Information and Communications Technology	INF15 - INF18
Energy	INF19 - INF21

Throughout the Strategic Process, the County Development Board has identified a number of deficiencies in infrastructural provision within and to the County. The Strategic Objectives on Spatial Development have identified the importance of the designation of the County as a functional area and the identification of a gateway growth axis within the County. This has implications for infrastructural development in view of the fact that the balanced regional development vision within the National Spatial Strategy highlights the provision of infrastructure in advance of need within the gateway areas.