Kildare County Development Plan 2023–2029 — Chapter 10: Community Infrastructure and Creative Places

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   Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O25 Increase the quantity and improve the quality of children’s play facilities across the county particularly in areas where a lack of provision has been identified (e.g., play areas should be within a 10-minute walk of new and existing residential areas), subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. SC O26 Identify deficiencies of play space for children and teenagers as part of the local area plan process to ensure provision is made in future developments to cater for the projected population. SC O27 Integrate, where possible and practical, the design of youth space facilities as part of all newly planned and proposed extensions to community facilities in the county. SC O28 Support the provision of multi-purpose sports (to include minority sports, and arts / drama activities) halls, outdoor playing pitches, allweather playing pitches, tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, and associated facilities in appropriate locations and to particularly encourage flexibility in the design of sports facilities in order to accommodate a range of sporting activities, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. SC O29 Make available/lease, vacant or unused council owned buildings/land to community groups, youth groups and clubs. SC O30 Ensure facilities are provided close to/within residential areas, public transport links, and cycling/walking routes allowing them to be more accessible for all members of the community. Actions It is an action of the Council to: SC A7 Facilitate local community groups/sporting organisations in the development of sport and recreational facilities through land use zoning within the local area plan process as appropriate. SC A8 Continue to develop open spaces throughout the county which encourage a range of recreational and amenity activities that will cater for both active and passive recreation, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. 10.8.2 People with Disabilities According to the 2016 census, there are 27,768 people in Kildare with a disability, the sixth highest in the state. This was an increase of 13% from the 2011 census. Of those with a disability, the most common were ‘chronic illness’ (17.1%), substantial physical limitation (13.1%), difficulty in going outside home (9.4%) and difficulty in participating in activities (12.1%). The least common reported disability was ‘blindness/impaired vision’ (2.9%). People with disabilities and the mobility impaired face particular physical barriers to access and movement. A key priority for the council is to remove barriers to316

2. Page 12

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   involvement in community and employment activities. In addition to improving accessibility to existing facilities and services, the Council will continue to enforce the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations for all new buildings and refurbishment projects where public access is required. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P5 Ensure all buildings, public and open spaces and recreational and amenity areas are accessible for people with disabilities, having regard to the Building Regulations, the objectives of ‘Building for Everyone’ (National Disability Authority), ‘Access for the Disabled’ (nos. 1 to 3) (National Rehabilitation Board), and the Irish Wheelchair Association Best Practice Guidelines: Designing Accessible Environments. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O31 Ensure that parking spaces provided for people with disabilities are appropriately indicated and located in a manner which has regard to dismounting and the safety of drivers and passengers. In addition, all parking spaces for the disabled shall be suitably marked both on the ground and by clearly visible vertical signs. SC O32 Ensure the needs of people with visual difficulties is integrated into the design of pedestrian facilities, by assessing the options available and choosing the most appropriate design. SC O33 Promote the provision of ‘changing places’ in public buildings, community facilities, key tourist sites and shopping centres in the county and promote the use of a universal key-lock system for ease of access to wheelchair accessible toilets. SC O34 Ensure that, where possible, all footpaths are. (i) Sufficiently wide and suitable for wheelchair use, (ii) Free from barriers, (iii) Well lit, (iv) Appropriately surfaced, and (v) Include kerb drops at all appropriate locations. As part of any redevelopment works, the accessibility of circulation routes must be considered and items (i) to (v) above must be addressed where possible and appropriate. Crossing points shall also be provided at suitable locations to allow for the uninterrupted movement of disabled users through the county’s towns and villages.317

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   Actions It is an action of the Council to: SC A9 Ensure that all footpaths and public areas are accessible and safe for people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility by continuing a programme of footpath development and improvements. SC A10 Conduct an accessibility audit throughout the county to include access to public buildings, parks, amenity areas, playgrounds, heritage/tourist sites and graveyards in conjunction with the Kildare County Council Parks and Access Officer. SC A11 Develop and maintain a directory of universally accessible recreational areas, sports and play facilities, community facilities and tourist attractions, throughout the county and develop additional facilities, where there is an identified need, in conjunction with the Kildare County Council Access Officer and to publish the accessibility directory online, through the medium of an interactive map, subject to resourcing and data protection (GDPR) requirements. 10.8.3 Older People The ’65 and over’ age cohort has rapidly increased in Kildare and now represents 9.9% of the total population living in the county according to the 2016 census. This is the 2nd lowest rate in the State. However, this cohort has increased by 32% from the 2011 census and was one of the highest increases in the State and will result in an increased demand on older person’s services. There are very clear spatial differences with the rate of older people in rural Kildare at 13.1% compared to 8.7% in urban Kildare. However, it should also be noted that of those in the ’65 and over’ age cohort, 14,050 live in urban areas while 7,964 are living in rural areas of the county. 10.8.3.1 Age Friendly Kildare In future proofing County Kildare to cater for an increased older population we can help make it a County that allows people to age in their community whilst also creating stronger more sustainable settlements. Such an aspiration requires an integrated approach and targeted investment at many levels from social infrastructure, to mobility and housing. In this regard, Kildare County Council is leading the way and there are many examples where measures are actively being implemented to make Kildare an age friendly County. Supported housing and longer-term residential care facilities for older people should be fully integrated into the local community. These facilities should be within walking distance of the town centre, key services, public transportation, car parking and public spaces set within a universally designed and age friendly public realm. For example, the Kildare Age Friendly Programme Manager has worked with various stakeholders to identify how new and existing infrastructure/buildings can be made age friendly by implementing the new policies and guiding documents from Age Friendly Ireland. This among other projects, has resulted in co-operation between the Council, the HSE and the developer to make Kildare (in Athy) home to the first Age Friendly Primary Care318

4. Page 14

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   Centre (PCC) in the country. The work will feed into guidelines being prepared to inform all other future PCCs nationally. This Plan recognises that McAuley Place in Naas has become a national exemplar model of housing for older people and will support further opportunities across Kildare to expand this supported housing market and model. Policies It is the policy of the Council to: SC P6 Facilitate the provision of continuing care facilities for older persons, such as own homes (designed to meet the needs of older persons), sheltered housing, day-care facilities, nursing homes, step down care centres, and specialised care units (e.g. dementia specific units) at appropriate locations throughout the county. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O35 Cater for the diversity of older people’s needs by promoting adaptability and flexibility in the design of homes and the promotion of appropriate commercial and community facilities in population centres with higher proportions of older people. SC O36 Provide for nursing homes in urban and appropriately located rural settings in the county and to site residential care facilities for older persons close to community and social facilities (e.g., shops, health services etc.) ensuring older persons can remain part of and contribute to existing communities, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. SC O37 Require a mobility strategy to accompany applications for nursing homes and residential care facilities detailing connections to amenities, parks, open spaces and local town/village/neighbourhood centres for access to services and facilities. SC O38 Require nursing home proposals to include appropriately sized open space, gardens and recreational areas that are accessible to residents. SC O39 Facilitate the aims and objectives outlined in the Kildare Age Friendly Strategy 2019-2021 (or any subsequent/updated version). SC O40 Adopt the ethos of McAuley Place, Naas as a recognised model of excellence for Positive Aging and best practice in Ireland in planning and delivering services to older people and aim to emulate this model within each of the five municipal districts in Kildare, at appropriate and sustainable locations. SC O41 Assess the suitability and demand for older persons care facilities as part of the review of Local Area Plans and to facilitate the use of appropriate sites and the refurbishment of existing buildings within towns and villages for such uses.319

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   10.8.4 Traveller Community The Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024 assessed the need for Traveller accommodation in the county. It sets out the Council’s policy regarding the provision of Traveller accommodation. The Council will, as necessary, continue to update its accommodation programme for the Travelling Community and endeavour to provide accommodation for Travellers. The annual count of Traveller families in Kildare has increased incrementally from 225 households (813 individuals) in 2015 to 302 households (1,026 individuals) in 2018. The Traveller population is a young population with increasing numbers of new and growing families. Census 2016 notes that most Travellers live in urban areas with the highest rates being located in the towns of Newbridge and Athy. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P7 Ensure Traveller accommodation is in proximity to key services including education, community, health, childcare, recreation, and public transport facilities. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O42 Support the role of community organisations, groups, and programmes in the delivery of facilities and services to members of the Travelling Community. SC O43 Support the actions and objectives outlined in the County Kildare Traveller and Roma inclusion Strategy 2019-2023. 10.8.5 Ethnic Minority Groups Census 2016 noted that just under 10.6% or 23,297 of the population residing in Kildare are non-Irish nationals. The majority (c.87%) live in the main urban centres. Polish nationals make up the largest proportion of non-nationals in Kildare, representing 30% of all non-nationals or 3.3% of the total population. As the figures would suggest Kildare is becoming an increasingly diverse county. Certain areas have a more ethnic or culturally diverse population than others and service provision / community facilities in these areas should reflect the varying needs of the community. A very clear spatial pattern is evident with the highest concentration of non-Irish nationals in Urban Kildare (12.8%) compared to Rural Kildare (4.8%).320

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   Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P8 Consider ethnicity and cultural diversity in planning for the needs of communities and to support the provision of services and community facilities that reflect the varying needs of ethnic minority groups to facilitate ease of integration into local communities. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O44 Support the actions and objectives set out in the Kildare Integration Strategy 2021-2026 and the National Migration Integration Strategy 2017-2020 (or any subsequent updated strategies). 10.9 Local Development/Community Groups The Council recognises the important role played by local development/community groups in the overall development of the county and will continue to support these groups in the development of facilities through the reservation of suitable land, and provision of funding where available and appropriate. A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland was prepared by the Department of Rural and Community Development and launched in 2019 titled ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities’. The Council is supportive of the goals and objectives outlined in this strategy. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P9 Work with statutory bodies, such as the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and other agencies including voluntary groups to counter disadvantage and social exclusion, to secure improvements in the quality of community facilities and to promote equality of access to public and social services for all members of the community. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O45 Assist community and voluntary groups in developing and enhancing facilities to meet the needs of the entire community and to promote the recruitment and retention of volunteers within community organisations. SC O46 Facilitate the development of new facilities in built up areas close to walking/cycling infrastructure and public transport links, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. SC O47 Facilitate the expansion of existing facilities to cater for the needs of community groups and the growing population in Kildare, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA.321

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   SC O48 Encourage community groups to share facilities with other community groups, clubs and organisations to ensure the use of community facilities are maximised throughout the county. 10.10 Arts and Culture in the Community Existing arts and cultural infrastructure in Kildare include theatres, cinemas, music venues, performance spaces, museums, libraries, halls, community centres and outdoor event spaces. Arts and Culture is a vibrant element of social life in the county with Census 2016 noting that 1.9% of the population aged 15 years and over were studying or working in the Arts sector (2,616 persons) while many others will be involved in voluntary capacities and / or participate in activities as a past time. The need for additional facilities / spaces to cater for the growing population is acknowledged and the Council supports the strategic priorities outlined in the following strategies: - “Short Grass Stories: An Arts Strategy for Kildare; 2018-2022” - “Kildare - Culture and Creativity Strategy; 2018-2022”. The Arts Strategy has given priority to four art forms for development comprising Dance, Music, Literature and Film. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P10 Develop and improve the physical infrastructure of arts and cultural facilities throughout the county particularly in areas where there is a deficiency in such provision, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O49 Ensure that all arts and cultural facilities in the ownership and management of the Council are accessible to the wider community and promote the role of these facilities as focal points for the community. SC O50 Continue to enhance art and creative spaces in libraries, including visual arts and gallery performance and workshop facilities. SC O51 Support the existing Heritage Centres by the promotion of further heritage services within the county and ensure they are accessible to all members of the community. SC O52 Promote the provision of public art, including temporary art and sculpture, through such mechanisms as the government supported ‘Per Cent for Art’ scheme. SC O53 Facilitate the creation and display of art works at appropriate public locations within streetscapes.322

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   SC O54 Facilitate community groups to use vacant or unused council premises for exhibitions, performances and other uses related to community arts, where appropriate. SC O55 Promote and support Kildare as a film friendly destination by identifying potential sites for filming and film studios. SC O56 Support and promote additional cultural, Irish language and arts spaces or centres throughout Kildare and support temporary or ‘pop-up’ opportunities as they arise. SC O57 Include Arts and Cultural facilities (museums, art centres, galleries, and libraries) in Social Infrastructure Audits undertaken as part of the local area plan process and liaise with relevant stakeholders to identify deficiencies. SC O58 Support the establishment of Youth Music hubs in appropriate locations within each Municipal District. SC O59 Support and encourage community groups in their pursuit of Líonra Gaeilge (Irish Language Network) for their area. Actions It is an action of the Council to: SC A12 Examine the feasibility of identifying a location for a performing arts space/theatre in North East Kildare taking account of the needs of existing groups operating in these areas. SC A13 Support the development of the Shackleton Museum, including the Shackleton exhibition and incorporating the potential of the Dominican Lands and Library and Community Arts Centre, as a unique cluster of Arts, Culture and Heritage in the south of the county. SC A14 Support the extension of Kildare town heritage centre and develop a museum or a cluster of museums in Kildare Town featuring the heritage and attractions of the town including natural heritage, history, the equine industry, the Defence Forces and St Brigid, subject to AA screening and where applicable, Stage 2 AA. SC A15 Continue to support the Riverbank Arts Centre, as the flagship centre for the arts in Kildare, including the capital redevelopment of the theatre. SC A16 Continue to support and encourage the development and growth of Youth and Community Theatre in the county. SC A17 Examine the feasibility of providing an Arts and Crafts Co-Operative on Council owned lands/within Council owned buildings during the lifetime of the Plan. SC A18 Investigate the feasibility of providing a museum attraction in North Kildare. 10.11 Library Services Library services, arts services, and cultural facilities all play an important role in helping communities in Kildare to become better places to live, where people feel connected and part of the broader community. Kildare County Council has a network of 15 branch libraries throughout the county.323

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   There are 7 full time libraries with one in Leixlip, Naas, Newbridge, Kildare, Celbridge, Maynooth and Athy and they act as a network to support 8 part time libraries (Ballitore, Castledermot, Clane, Clocha Rince, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Monasterevin, Rathangan) and a mobile library service which provides a valuable and important service to rural areas and smaller communities of the county. There is also a Local Studies Department, Genealogy Service and Archival Service. Kildare’s public libraries are being re-imagined as facilities for community, arts, and cultural activities. The Public Library Strategy 2018-2022 prepared by the Department of Rural and Community Development titled “Our Public Libraries 2022” is underpinned by four strategic objectives which include promoting the library service as a key community resource and continuing investment in library buildings, technology, and facilities. Reflecting the objectives outlined in the Public Library Strategy is the Kildare Library Service Interim Development Plan 2020-2022 titled “Recover, Refocus, Re-energise” which charts the future direction of Kildare’s library service through a variety of actions that take account of the changing technological, economic, and social profile of the county. Policy It is the policy of the Council to: SC P11 Support the delivery of library facilities in Kildare and develop/upgrade existing library buildings where required as demand increases subject to the availability of resources and finance. Objectives It is an objective of the Council to: SC O60 Encourage the use of library facilities for other community, arts, and cultural activities. SC O61 Promote the clustering of other community facilities around existing library buildings. SC O62 Provide and improve access to library services for all users in proposed and existing library accommodation and provide an integrated approach to the delivery of library, arts, genealogy, archives, and local studies services. SC O63 Support the aims/actions set out in the Kildare Library Service Interim Development Plan 2020 - 2022 (or any subsequent updated version) to deliver additional services and facilities. SC O64 Support and facilitate the expansion of library facilities throughout the county, as necessary and appropriate. SC O65 Support and encourage Library services to engage with complementary commercial outlets. SC O66 Support the development and delivery of new library services for Celbridge where appropriate and to consider the feasibility of colocating these services with other appropriate community-based services.324

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    10.12 Educational Facilities Strong educational attainment is an essential platform to develop and maintain thriving communities and to support continued economic development. The rapid population growth experienced in Kildare has impacted on service delivery, with the county experiencing high pupil/teacher ratios in recent years with many classes above the recommended ratio. In 2019, it was reported that one in five students in Kildare primary schools were in classrooms with teacher pupil ratios of more than 1:30, while more than 40 schools had class sizes larger than the national average2. However, it is understood this is now decreasing with primary teacher numbers rising nationally. This is reflected in North Kildare where the average class size for schools based on mainstream pupils in mainstream classes for 2020/21 was 25.43. It is important to note that responsibility for delivery of education facilities and services lies with the Department of Education. However, the Council continues to work closely with the DoE through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education and Skills and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) in relation to the acquisition of sites to proactively identify and acquire sites for new primary and post-primary schools and to support the Department’s Schools Building Programme. Since the adoption of the previous County Development Plan in March 2017, four large-scale school projects were completed in Kildare (3 primary schools and 1 secondary school) while a further 29 projects are presently in the pipeline at various stages from site acquisition, design stage, to works having commenced on-site. 10.12.1 Primary Schools and Post Primary Schools There are 102 mainstream primary schools (7 of which are DEIS4 schools) in Kildare registered with the Department of Education for the 2020/21 school year with a total of 29,498 students enrolled in the various schools. The majority (82%) of these schools are identified as Catholic while others are represented as Church of Ireland (5%) and Multi-Denominational (10%). Census 2016 noted the population aged 5-12 (primary school going age) residing in the county was 29,453 which is broadly in line with current enrolment figures. It is notable that the population in this age cohort increased by almost 10% from 2011 to 2016. The Department of Education identified 30 post primary schools (7 of which are DEIS schools) in Kildare for the 2020/21 school year with a total of 20,216 enrolled throughout the various schools. 13 schools are identified as Multi Denominational, 12 Catholic and 5 Inter Denominational. It is also notable that most post primary schools in Kildare are mixed schools (23 in total) while there are 4 boys and 3 girls’ schools. 2 Leinster Leader (July 2019) 3 Government statement 23rd September 2021 and may include secondary schools. 4 Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS), Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, Department of Education and Skills May 2005.325

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