Development plan · Kildare County Council
Kildare County Development Plan 2023–2029 — Chapter 4: Resilient Economy and Job Creation
One part of the council's development plan written statement, which the council publishes in parts. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Kildare County Council · 2023–2029 · 48 pages
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- 4.20 Equine It is estimated that c.5,500 people are directly employed in the equine industry within the county, with a further c.10,000 people in associated industries and services. There are 104 stud farms in the county. Racecourses at Punchestown, Naas and The Curragh, the State-owned National Stud Farm and Goff’s Equine Auction Centre are all important economic contributors to the county. There are considerable opportunities to optimise these existing resources in order to increase employment and to further develop equine tourism and promote Kildare as a location for national and international equine events. There is also scope to further diversify the sports related horse industry which, given the proximity to Dublin, could be integrated with show jumping, eventing and general equine related leisure activities. Plans are also in progress for a new €3.2 million racehorse simulation attraction at the National Stud and Gardens. The first of its kind in Ireland, it sees the National Stud and Fáilte Ireland working together to increase visitor numbers to the Thoroughbred County. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P14 Actively promote and support the equine industry as an economic driver for Kildare. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: RE O92 Support the continued redevelopment and upgrading of the National Stud, Curragh, Punchestown and Naas racecourses and their associated facilities. RE O93 Facilitate and support the development and expansion of equine pharmaceuticals/equine food businesses and other related industries in the County. RE O94 Promote and support the redevelopment of the Irish Equine Centre in Johnstown as a new Irish Equine Health and Welfare Campus, ensuring world leading facilities and expertise are available in this critical research and diagnostic facility. RE O95 Protect and nurture the environment which allows the equine industry to flourish in Co. Kildare and support the conserving and development of equine walking paths, bridle ways, tracks and trails. RE O96 Promote and facilitate, at appropriate locations, commercial activities that are directly associated with the Horse Racing and Sport Horse industries. 4.21 Tourism Tourism and recreation make a positive contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of the county. Kildare’s close proximity to Dublin offers significant opportunities to expand the existing tourism offer and brand for the county. Kildare’s location, its rich built and natural heritage along with its horse racing and golfing attractions provide opportunities to attract spin-off tourism from the city region and neighbouring counties.120
- Kildare’s tourist attractions and tourism amenities are therefore important assets for the development of the county and are fundamental to the enjoyment by both visitors and residents. The important contribution that the community and the vast numbers of volunteers throughout the county make to the enhancement of Kildare as a place to visit is widely acknowledged and recognised. The key focus for the Midlands/INTO Kildare region will be the further development and promotion of the local culture and heritage product, including the development of ‘the Ireland’s Ancient East’ brand as it relates to Kildare. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Fáilte Ireland develops, promotes and invests in regional tourism through Regional Experience Brands. Kildare sits within the ‘Irelands Ancient East’ regional experience brand. The strategic focus for Ireland’s Ancient East is to refine and strengthen the destinations’ brand proposition to embrace the broader offering of the destination and increase its consumer appeal to a wider audience, increase knowledge and awareness, and improve the ‘navigability' of the region, alongside establishing iconic and signature visitor experiences and strong destination towns that have the potential to become key regional attractors to drive and disperse targeted domestic and overseas visitors. 4.21.1 Tourist attractions in Kildare Tourism is an important sector of Kildare’s economy and prior to Covid 19 had grown substantially over the previous number of years. Because of its proximity to the Dublin tourism hub, the tourism sector requires a particular strategic approach for success. This includes an emphasis on boutique and special character hotels offering an ‘accommodation plus’ product (e.g. leisure, recreation, outdoor pursuits, heritage and selected sports). Kildare currently has a varied tourism portfolio with a position of excellence in heritage, golf, equine including horse racing, adventure activities, shopping, walking and cycling (including the Greenways and Blueways). Whether operating individually, within clusters, or along touring routes, these facilities and activities must be developed and marketed as attractive day visits or touring options that appeal to both domestic and international visitors. In the context of tourism, the natural environment, landscape, built heritage and attractive towns and villages play a key role. Significant natural attractions include the Curragh plains, the bogs to the west, the rolling hills of the eastern uplands, the waterways of the River Liffey, the River Barrow and the Grand and Royal Canals. The rich architectural and archaeological heritage of the county is also acknowledged with many renowned structures and houses including Castletown House, Carton House, Barberstown Castle, the Wonderful Barn, Moone High Cross and Castledermot Round Tower. There are a number of areas of strategic tourism potential in the county. These are highlighted in the Tourism Map at the end of this Chapter. Concentrations of tourist attractions are located within the cluster around Kildare Town, including; St Brigid’s Cathedral and Round Tower, the Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens, St Fiachra’s Garden, Kildare Town Heritage Centre and Kildare Outlet Village. There is also a wide range of tourist attractions in the North Kildare Area including, Castletown House and Demesne, Carton House, Maynooth Castle, Conolly’s Folly, Leixlip Castle, Lyons121
- Estate, Arthur’s Way, the Wonderful Barn and St Patrick’s College Maynooth and also in the south of the county including the Shackleton Museum, Barrow Blueway and Columbian Way. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P15 Support, promote, protect, improve, encourage and facilitate the development of tourism throughout the county as an important contributor to job creation in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: RE O97 Support and facilitate the erection of standardised signage for tourism facilities and tourist attractions in Irish and English as part of national and regional initiatives. Consideration should also be given to gateway signage at county boundaries in consultation with relevant agencies. RE O98 Identify strategic sites capable of accommodating new tourism ventures while also ensuring the preservation of the natural landscape of the area having regard to economic, environmental and social sustainability considerations. RE O99 Support the expansion and development of tourism in Kildare, investigating the feasibility of key opportunities such as those centred on the racing industry, motorsports, retail, heritage, historical heritage (both persons and places), geology, peatlands, golf and eco-tourism to include: Arthur’s Way, the Dublin – Galway Greenway, the Barrow Blueway, the Shackleton Trail, Shackleton Museum, Mondello the Gordon Bennett Route, the Grand Canal Greenway, Brigid 1500, a Fitzgerald Family Trail, the Made of Athy Trail, Castledermot Town Wall, the Columbian Way and other opportunities. Such developments shall be subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. RE O100 Support additional and diversification of tourist accommodation and other types of tourism infrastructure such as motorhome parking and toilet facilities at appropriate, sustainable locations, where the vitality and vibrancy of nearby serviced centres is not compromised. RE O101 Support INTO Kildare’s County Kildare Tourism Strategy to maximise Kildare’s potential to become a dedicated and recognised location for recreational and cultural tourism within the Greater Dublin Area. RE O102 Identify all opportunities for funding, including LEADER, Urban and Rural Regeneration Development Fund, National and European funding schemes and seek to maximise the benefit of such funding opportunities to the county. RE O103 Facilitate the implementation of the Kildare Local Economic Community Plan; Economic and Community Actions related to tourism development.122
- RE O104 Direct the provision of tourist related facilities such as Tourist Information Centres, self-service brochure units, kiosks, and cultural centres, into town and village locations to support and strengthen the existing economic infrastructure of such centres. Consider the potential for co-locating such facilities with existing facilities such as libraries and citizen information centres. RE O105 Promote and facilitate the development of rural tourism inter alia open farms, on-farm craft villages and visitor centres and the reuse and refurbishment of vernacular buildings (houses or farm/industrial buildings) for tourist related facilities, including holiday home accommodation; subject to compliance with both the Rural Housing Policies and Development Management Standards of this Plan. It is important that such development does not have a detrimental impact on the residential amenities of rural residents. RE O106 Encourage the clustering of tourism enterprise in town and village centres in the interest of sustainable tourism development and the enhancement of the public realms of town and village centres to maximise their tourism potential. In all cases, applicants must submit a robust assessment setting out the sustainability of any proposal with respect to economic, environmental and social sustainability. RE O107 Continue to protect and enhance the unique landscape of the Curragh Plains and all its associated history. RE O108 Encourage and support start-up enterprises in tourism across Kildare. RE O109 Support the development of sustainable forest-based tourism facilities and accommodation at appropriate locations within the Coillte estate. Such developments shall be subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. RE O110 Support the preparation and implementation of a Conservation Management Plan and a Branding and Interpretation Plan, in partnership with the Department of Defence, for the Curragh Plains. RE O111 Work with local community groups, schools and service providers to promote the establishment of community gardens. RE O112 Support the provision of accessible tourism and to provide appropriate access for the disabled and appropriate changing places at all key tourist centres within the County. RE O113 Examine the feasibility of establishing another tourist office (Kildare Town has a Fáilte Ireland approved tourist office) or visitor information point in the Key Town of Maynooth, which would serve the north of the County. RE O114 Ensure that innovative tourism ideas are assessed on their merits on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, applicants must submit a robust assessment setting out the sustainability of any proposal with respect to economic, environmental and social sustainability. RE O115 Liaise with Dublin Local Authorities and look at the feasibility of implementing the Liffey Valley Strategy. RE O116 Support the development of tourist attractions at Mullaghmast Rath and Moone High Cross. RE O117 Protect all landscape types from inappropriate tourism development by ensuring that developments and other activities associated with123
- tourism or recreational activity are sensitively located so that they do not cause damage, are not detrimental to or detract from the traditional character or appearance of areas of scenic or visual amenities and ensure that the layout, design, and associated infrastructure are of the highest quality. RE O118 Ensure the highest standards of design are used in the development of tourism related facilities to ensure that there are no significant adverse impacts on the landscape, including Natura 2000 sites and historic archaeological sites. Such facilities must be integrated into the landscape to take advantage of natural screening and topography. 4.22 Environmental Sustainability and Tourism Environmental sustainability will be central to the development and protection of a viable tourism sector, and this is a key consideration in a County where many tourism attractions are located in environmentally sensitive areas and close to historic areas where the quality of the built heritage and environment must be protected from inappropriate development – whether tourism related or not. Tourism and recreational development shall be assessed against the nature and scale appropriate to the character of the area and shall be located to be visually sympathetic to its surroundings. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change on our cultural, heritage and natural assets may present a threat to their value and integrity. The tourism sector itself is vulnerable to climate change. Threats include more extreme weather events, increasing insurance costs and safety concerns, water shortages and loss and damage to natural assets and attractions at destinations. Continued climate-driven degradation and disruption to cultural and natural heritage will negatively affect the tourism sector, reduce the attractiveness of destinations and lessen economic opportunities for local communities. In proposing measures to deal with the effects of climate change, it is important to consider any unintended consequences for heritage and tourism that might arise. Truly sustainable tourism development must manage issues of physical and cultural impacts, as well as addressing the urgent necessity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this growing sector, especially from transport. At the same time, tour- ism should pay much greater attention to understanding and addressing the many and varied impacts of rapid climate change that will increasingly affect its operations and destinations. The possibilities offered by environmental initiatives such as rehabilitated peatlands are examined in this section. Addressing climate change offers opportunities for themed educational tourism. Given the expertise of third level institutions within the county in the area of climate change, there may well be themed tourism opportunities in combining this and the environmental assets within the county in leadership initiatives around climate change.124
- Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P16 Support and promote environmental sustainability, which will be central to the development and protection of a viable tourism sector within the county. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: RE O119 Promote Kildare as a hub for sustainable tourism and the sustainable development of low impact activities including orienteering, angling, equestrian activities, bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, paragliding, botany, photography, painting, yoga and meditation, in appropriate locations in order to diversify the range of tourist experiences available in the county and to extend the tourism season. RE O120 Encourage all new tourism related development proposals to maximise energy efficiency through siting, layout and design and incorporate best practice in energy technologies, conservation and smart technology. RE O121 Require the preparation of ‘Attraction Management Plans’ for new developments/projects which may impact on areas of ecological or heritage sensitivity in County Kildare. These plans should consider (but not limited to) potential for loss of habitat and disturbance by increased visitor numbers. Applications or proposals will be accompanied by a management plan indicating projected numbers of users, hours of operation, seasons of operation, and an undertaking to protect the natural environment in the form of a risk assessment with proposed amelioration measures in respect of flora, fauna, hydrology, geology and soils. The Attraction Management Plans should have regard to any mitigation as detailed within a Stage 2 AA or EcIA. RE O122 Ensure the potential environmental effects of a likely increase in tourists/tourism-related traffic volumes in particular locations/along particular routes shall be considered and mitigated as appropriate. Such a consideration should include potential impacts on existing infrastructure (including drinking water, wastewater, waste and transport) resulting from tourism proposals and should have regard to any mitigation as detailed within a Stage 2 AA or EcIA. RE O123 Strengthen resilience to climate change by ensuring that all new major tourist developments provide a climate vulnerability assessment within sensitive and vulnerable sites. RE O124 Consider the following criteria in assessing tourism development proposals: - The need for the development and facility to be provided. - Justification for the proposed site location. - Details in relation to accessibility including pedestrian and cycle provisions and linkages to the proposed development. - Proposed developments should be modest in scale, sensitively located and designed having regard to existing buildings and125
- topography. - Proposed developments must be adequately landscaped, serviced and suitably managed. RE O125 Facilitate tourist-based developments such as information centres and cultural centres into existing settlements where there is adequate infrastructure to service these activities. 4.23 Fáilte Ireland Strategies / Ireland’s Ancient East In March 2015, the Government published the Tourism Policy Statement; People, Place and Policy – Tourism to 2025 which sets out clear and ambitious targets for the development of Irish tourism. The ambition of this policy statement is to have a vibrant, attractive tourism sector that makes a significant contribution to employment across the country; is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable; helps promote a positive image of Ireland overseas and is a sector in which people want to work. Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Development & Innovation; A Strategy for Investment 2016 – 2022 is a broad strategy for investment in the tourism sector and seeks to identify the areas of investment that need focus on what will deliver sustainable growth in the Irish tourism sector resulting in higher revenue and more jobs. The tourism sector’s best prospects for growth lie in generating increased levels of overseas revenue. The focus of the Government’s 2025 Tourism Policy is to increase the economic contribution of tourism to the Irish economy, by increasing the value of tourism service exports. Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, aims to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy. Its current strategy for Kildare is encompassed in the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ programme. INTO Kildare collaborates with Fáilte Ireland to promote County Kildare as a destination within Ireland’s Ancient East which has been developed as a branded visitor experience encompassing the rich heritage and cultural assets that Ireland has to offer in the eastern and southern half of the country. The IAE visitor experience is based on Ireland’s rich built, natural and cultural legacy, made accessible and delivered through stories and interpretation at key historical sites, a significant number of which are owned and managed by the Office of Public Works. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P17 Continue to work in collaboration with other key stakeholders to implement the programmes and plans of the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative over the lifetime of the plan to maximise the tourism potential of the county.126
- RE P18 Continue to support and encourage increased co-ordination, cohesion and linkages between Fáilte Ireland, INTO Kildare and Kildare County Council. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: RE O126 Support the preparation and implementation of a Regional Tourism Strategy and to support the continued collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and all relevant tourism stakeholders. RE O127 Support the preparation of Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDP) and other tourism masterplans both within County Kildare and also those which cross from County Kildare into neighbouring counties in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and other tourism stakeholders. RE O128 Continue to work with Fáilte Ireland and tourism stakeholders to implement the Thoroughbred Country Destination Development Plan and its key catalyst projects including, ‘The New International Thoroughbred Trail’ and ‘The Thoroughbred County’. RE O129 Continue to collaborate with Fáilte Ireland, the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of a signage programme associated with Ireland’s Ancient East to include branded orientation signage and roadside signage in Irish and English. RE O130 Facilitate the enhancement of appropriate visitor infrastructure and facilities in Kildare associated with Ireland’s Ancient East sites and other places with tourism potential. RE O131 Continue to work in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and other key stakeholders on the development of the Ireland’s Ancient East branding strategy, to implement the programmes and plans of the Ireland’s Ancient East initiative over the lifetime of the plan and to maximise the tourism potential of the county RE O132 Facilitate and promote Kildare Town’s development as a National Tourism Hub, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland and INTO Kildare. RE O133 Investigate the feasibility of developing a Tourism Destination Centre within the Curragh which would focus on the equine and military history of the area, in conjunction with INTO Kildare and other tourism stakeholders. RE O134 Continue to work with INTO Kildare to: (a) Implement a tourism development strategy in the county and identify the particular role and competence of all partner agencies. (b) Develop an appropriate and compelling marketing proposition and plan for Kildare as a tourism destination. (c) Continue to develop a suite of training programmes that will ensure that tourism businesses in the county recruit staff with appropriate skills and provide for career development; and (d) Promote the Green Hospitality Programme.127
- 4.24 Peatland Tourism The development of both the Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park and the proposed Umeras Peatlands Park has increased the access and educational value of the vast peatland network in the county. The uninterrupted expanse and biodiversity of these areas are a significant attraction. The Council will continue to seek to promote the existing facilities and their expansion. The Council supports the longer-term strategic planning for industrial peatland areas, which should include a comprehensive after-use framework plan for the industrial peatlands and associated infrastructure including workshops, office buildings and industrial sites reflecting the current transition from employment based around peat extraction. This has potential for tourism resources, examples of which could include, peatways, bike-hire facilities recreational forestry, wilderness, eco-tourism based on biodiversity and a National Peatlands Park. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P19 Promote the tourist development potential of ‘after use’ peatlands, subject to proper planning, environmental protection and sustainable development whilst having regard to any mitigation as detailed within a Stage 2 AA or EcIA.. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: RE O135 (a) Support and facilitate the development of Umeras Bog into a Peatlands Park. (b) Develop the tourism potential of peatlands and in particular support the proposed Umeras Peatlands Park and existing Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park as tourist and ecological amenities subject to proper planning, environmental protection and sustainable development. (c) Explore what linkages could be created between raised boglands and fens and nearby blueways and greenways, whilst ensuring that the environment and nearby properties would not be negatively affected or where there will be no potential for likely significant effects on a European Site or on a site that shares a hydrological connection with a European Site. (d) Look at the feasibility of creating linkages between the proposed Umeras Peatlands Park and Monasterevin train station. (e) Look at the feasibility of creating linkages between Mouds Bog and the nearby town of Newbridge. Such developments shall be subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA, and should have regard to any mitigation as detailed within a Stage 2 AA or EcIA.128
- RE O136 Facilitate the development of a tourism resource using cutaway peatlands in conjunction with Bord na Móna and Fáilte Ireland, subject to environmental considerations and nature designations, for example, recreational forestry, outdoor pursuits, peat ways on the network of bogs and industrial railways and a designation of a National Peatlands Park. Such developments shall be subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. RE O137 Support in conjunction with Offaly County Council, Laois County Council and all other relevant stakeholders such as Bord na Mona, Coillte, the NPWS and environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, any proposal for a new National Peatland Park centred in Kildare on state-owned cutaway bogs in Kildare, Laois and Offaly having regard to other relevant land use plans where appropriate. RE O138 Acknowledge the special status of Kilberry as an Industrial Village and to facilitate its tourism economic potential in conjunction with Bord na Móna, Fáilte Ireland and other relevant agencies. RE O139 Require applicants to prepare a peatland stability assessment, carbon emissions balance assessment and hydrological and ecological impact assessments, as required, when developing project proposals for development on peatlands.4 4.25 The Barrow Blueway Waterways Ireland in conjunction with Kildare, Carlow, Laois and Kilkenny County Councils, LEADER Companies and INTO Kildare have set out a strategy to develop the existing track way along the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal and Barrow River as a 112 km shared-use trail for tourism and recreational purposes, branded the ‘Barrow Blueway’. This Strategy also proposes to open up the Canals across Kildare to link with Dublin, the Barrow River system and Mullingar to the west, so that visitors can enjoy walkways, cycle paths and navigational improvements for recreational purposes. The development of such greenways elsewhere in the country has stimulated and created significant new visitor activity and expenditure. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: RE P20 Continue to work closely with key stakeholders in the tourism industry including Fáilte Ireland, INTO Kildare, Waterways Ireland, County Kildare Leader Partnership and the National Parks and Wildlife Services, in order to develop the Barrow Blueway for tourism and recreation and ensure ease of access to this amenity and that the Council works with Wicklow County Council, INTO Kildare, Fáilte Ireland and business stakeholders to promote the area both nationally and internationally as an area with a considerable number of tourist attractions and marketing potential. 4 Refer also to Objectives EC O58 (Chapter 7) & RD O41 (Chapter 9)129
Source Kildare County Council: Kildare County Development Plan 2023–2029 — Chapter 4: Resilient Economy and Job Creation (2023–2029) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.