Section 4: A Regional Perspective

County Kerry is in the South and Eastern Regional area for National Development Plan purposes and the South Western Region for Regional Authority Purposes. If we are to achieve our Strategic Objectives in Section 3, we will need co-operation from agencies in other regions. The priority themes which require a regional perspective are set out in this Section.

Kerry is located within the South West Regional Authority functional area and the South and East Regional Assembly area. This Strategy advocates an outward looking approach and it is recognised that the achievement of certain objectives will require collaboration with other counties and authorities in other regions. The purpose of this section is to identify areas where this collaboration is necessary. These include:

Transport
The development of the main access routes to the County including the N22 from Cork to Killarney/Tralee, the N72 from Mallow to Killarney, the N21 from Limerick to Castleisland/Tralee and the N69 from Limerick to Listowel/Tralee. It is an objective of the Board to seek the upgrading of the status of the N69 road to a national primary route and to seek co-operation from Limerick County Council and the National Roads Authority in meeting this objective. It is also an objective of the Board to seek the upgrading of the status of the N72 ,from Mallow to Killarney road, to a National Primary Route and to seek co-operation from Cork County Council and the National Roads Authority in meeting this objective. Furthermore, it is an objective of the Board to request Cork County Council and the National Roads Authority to improve substantially the N22 National Primary Route from Macroom to Ballyvourney.

Energy
The development of a higher grade electricity network within the County has been identified. It is an objective of this Board to work with adjoining counties including Cork, Limerick and Clare and electricity providers in lobbying for upgrading the capacity of electricity lines serving the region. This Strategy identifies alternative energy sources as an integral objective in meeting the future energy needs of the County. The development of key alternative energy sites within the South West and Mid West Regions is important to the future development of County Kerry and to the Regions. Within this framework, it is recognised that, while self-sufficiency in energy terms is desirable, the fact is that the future development of the County may rest with the provision of energy needs from outside the County. In turn, Kerry is uniquely placed to develop alternative energy sources and could therefore develop opportunities which would be of benefit to adjoining counties and regions.

Information and Communications Technology
The Kerry County Development Board will collaborate with County Development Boards in Clare, Limerick and Cork to identify actual and proposed broadband infrastructure needs in the region, business requirements and the likely requirements for broadband infrastructure in the medium term with a view to promoting projects for funding under the National Development Plan.

Waste Management
The Kerry County Development Board recognises that the achievement of the objectives in the Waste Management Plan for Limerick/Clare/Kerry Region (June 2000) requires a shared approach between the local authorities and people of counties Kerry, Limerick and Clare and Limerick City. The Board endorses this approach which involves substantial progress in the development of waste management facilities.

Gaeltacht Regions
There are Gaeltacht regions in seven counties throughout the Country. The sensitive and sustainable development of these Gaeltacht regions is an objective of this Strategy. The Kerry County Development Board proposes to co-operate, particularly through the NASC Partnership, in developing consistent approaches to Gaeltacht areas with particular reference to the linguistic heritage of these areas.