The Council will endeavour to make provision for a hierarchy of parks open spaces and out door recreation areas within the County so that the population can participate in a wide range of active and passive recreational pursuits within easy reach of their homes and places of work.

The prerogative to maintain and enhance existing open space, sport and recreational facilities as well as providing new facilities permeates all levels of national planning advice.

(a) The National Development Plan
The benefits of a healthy population are identified in the National Development Plan and funds are allocated for provision of physical infrastructure for recreation in deprived urban and rural areas.

(b) Sustainable development A Strategy for Ireland
The principle of sustainability and encouragement to all forms of sustainable development underline the Dept. of the Environment and Local Government’s approach to planning. Providing opportunities for people to participate in sport and in a wide range of formal and informal recreation activities should where ever possible be available for everyone, including the elderly, young children and those with disabilities for whom access to facilities is especially important.

(c) Parks Policy for Local Authorities (1987)
This document identifies that a co-ordinated approach to the provision of public parks and outdoor recreation areas is necessary if public demand is to be adequately catered for and if maximum value is to be obtained from the limited resources available.

(d) Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland
This document sets out a clear blueprint for the development of Irish sport with regard to facilities. A Strategic goal is the provision of quality sports facilities in the right place at the right time.

(e) Residential Density Guidelines for Planning Authorities
Permeating through the guidelines is the concept that achievement of higher densities must be coupled with a higher standard of residential environment and thus the provision of higher quality public and communal open space.

The Council recognises that the countryside has an important function in providing outdoor recreational facilities not only for the population of the County but also for visitors and tourists. It is recognised that the provision of tourist facilities is an integral part of the provision of outdoor recreational facilities in the countryside and that the two types of demand are not necessarily the same.

Drawing from the relevant National guidelines and the provisions and experience of the previous development plan the following will form the Councils policy objectives.

Provision of Facilities Generally
It will be the policy of the Council to co operate with local development organisations, community groups, the Co. Kilkenny Vocational Educational Committee, and others in the development of recreational facilities throughout the County and to enter into joint venture arrangements where appropriate for the provision of such facilities.

Protection of open space
It will be the policy of the Council not to permit development which would result in the loss of public or private playing fields, parks, children’s play space amenity open space or zoned land for recreational or open space purposes. An exception may be considered where the following requirements are met and demonstrable:

- There is a clear excess of playing fields or open space provision within the area. This should take into account the long term needs of the community, the type and recreational and amenity value of such provision.
- Alternative provision is made which is both accessible and of equal or greater quality and benefit to the community.
- The retention or enhancement of the facility can best be achieved by the redevelopment of a small part of the site that will not affect its sporting, recreation or amenity value.
- The site is indicated for an alternative use in the development plan.

Open Space in New Residential Development
The Council will require the provision of open space to the following minimum standard:

2.4 hectares per 1,000 population (circa 25 dwellings or greater) (see Development Control Section)

• A lesser standard of provision may be acceptable in urban development or redevelopment schemes where open space is already available with relatively high densities such as flats townhouses or apartments, but should generally still amount to at least 10% of the total site area.

• Open space provision for smaller residential developments and schemes catering for special groups such as accommodation for the elderly or single persons will be considered on merit

• Developers may also be required to provide an equipped children’s playground in association with open space provision where a development scheme would be greater than 800 meters from an existing easily accessible equipped children’s playground.

• Developers will be required to make suitable provision for the future management and maintenance of open space required under this policy.

Outdoor Recreation in the Countryside
The Council will normally permit development proposals for outdoor recreational use in the countryside where all the following criteria are met:

- It will not result in damage to sites of nature conservation importance or features of the archaeological and built heritage;
- It will not result in the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land;
- It will not cause harm to the appearance and character of the local landscape and can be readily absorbed into its surroundings by taking advantage of existing vegetation and /or topography;
- The amenity of the people living nearby or the enjoyment of other countryside users is not adversely affected by the nature, scale, extent, frequency or timing of the recreational activities proposed including any noise likely to be generated;
- Any ancillary built development is small in scale, designed to a high standard and sympathetic to the surrounding environment in its siting, layout and landscape treatment.
- Consideration is given to access to the proposed facility by means of transport other than the private car and;
- The local road network can safely handle the extra traffic the proposal would generate and satisfactory arrangements are provided for access, parking, drainage, litter and sewage.

The Council is aware of the considerable recreational potential which is available in the mountain, hill areas and river valleys both in the county and just outside its borders. The council will co-operate with the adjoining Authorities and with other interested parties such as Bord Failte, An Taisce, mountaineering, game clubs, and other appropriate organisations to protect the potential of these areas and to carry out appropriate developments as and when resources permit. Such developments would comprise the laying out of walks, bridle paths, access points to streams and lakes, new access roads and car parks, lay-byes and picnic sites, climbing huts and hostels.

Intensive Sports Facilities
The Council will normally only permit development proposals for intensive sports facilities where these are located within settlements and provided all of the following criteria are met:

- It will not have any direct impact on residential amenity;
- It is located so as to be accessible to the catchment population and gives priority to walking , cycling and public transport and does not generate unacceptable levels of traffic;
- It is designed so as to minimise the impact of noise and light pollution;
- There is no significant detrimental impact on the natural environment or features of the archaeological and built heritage;
- The proposal is of a high quality design and respects and contributes to the character of its location and townscape and
- The proposal is compatible with development plan zonings.

Noise Generating sports
Where development proposals for sport or recreational uses generating high levels of noise are proposed permission will be considered where the following criteria are met:

- The proposal will not cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to local residents.
- The proposal will not cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to farm live stock and wildlife.
- The proposal will not conflict with enjoyment of areas used for informal recreation.
- The ambient noise level in the area is already high and the tone of noise produced by the new activity will not be dominant.

Development associated with water sports
The Council will normally only permit proposals for development associated with water sports adjacent to inland lakes and waterways where all of the following criteria are met:

- The proposed facilities are compatible with any existing use of the water, including non recreational uses;
- It will not result in damage to sites of nature conservation importance or features of the archaeological and built heritage.
- The development can be satisfactorily integrated into its landscape or townscape surroundings;
- The development will not have an unacceptable impact on visual amenity especially in Areas of Special Amenity, or other locally important scenic areas; and
- The development will not result in over intensification of use leading to pollution, excessive noise and nuisance.

The floodlighting of Recreational Facilities
The Council will normally only permit proposals for the floodlighting of recreational facilities where the amenities of adjacent residents will not be significantly impaired and the visual amenity and character of the locality will not be adversely affected.

Development Levies for Sports and Recreation facilities
The Council will continue to levy a sum of money from each housing unit proposed to go to the provision of public open space. A separate fund will be set up to assist in the provision and development of open space and recreational facilities throughout the City and County.
Appropriate levels of Sports and Recreation Provision
It will be the policy of the Council to ensure that developers be required to make provision for sport and recreational infrastructure commensurate with the needs of their developments as an integral element of their proposals. Such provision should include direct provision on or off site or a development levy to enable the Council to make appropriate alternative provision.

It will be Council’s policy to maximise the use of resources. The appropriate standards are detailed in the development Control section of the Plan.

- During the period of the Plan it is an objective of the Council to prepare a detailed recreation study of the County dealing with the quantitative and qualitative aspects of recreation within the County and setting out a strategy for the future provision of recreational facilities within the County.

- It is an objective of the Council in conjunction with Kilkenny Corporation to develop a new swimming pool on a suitable site within Kilkenny City and its environs. A feasibility study has been carried out and the site selection process is underway at present.

Between 1992 and 1997 the number of overseas tourists visiting the South East increased by 37%. This was below the national growth rate in overseas tourist arrivals during the same period. However, a large proportion of this national growth was concentrated in Dublin. If Dublin is excluded, the South East is on a par with the average of the other regions. The South East region had the fourth largest growth rate after Dublin, Midlands East and the Cork/Kerry regions.

International tourism expenditure is forecast to grow by close to 6% per annum in real terms over the next decade. Further considerable growth in the market share by Ireland is achievable and appropriate investment decisions have the potential to deliver substantial gains for the regions.*

Kilkenny is part of the South East Region and tourism is promoted and marketed by the South East Regional Tourism Organisation (S.E.R.T.O.). A regional Tourism Plan 2000 to 2006 has been prepared in the context of the National Development Plan by SERTO. The Plan focuses on the promotion and marketing of the landscape of the region and developing amenities including angling, cycling, festivals, and golf and heritage tourism. Kilkenny’s international reputation as a centre of design and high quality craft production is a proven asset. Kilkenny Arts Week and the Cats Laughs comedy festival have raised the profile of Kilkenny City as a tourism destination.

Tourism made a significant contribution to employment and economic growth nationally in the period 1994 – 1999 and is seen as a sector which can make a contribution to balanced regional development and in particular rural development.*

*Source NDP

Tourist attractions in the County outside the City are Mount Juliet Estate Dunmore caves, Jerpoint Abbey, Rice House in Callan, Duiske Abbey in Graiguenamanagh, Kells Priory, Windgap Slate quarries and Woodstock Estate.

There are other areas of the County which have untapped potential and could be successfully developed in terms of a sustainable tourism product.

Sustainable tourism involves a positive approach to harmonising the interactions between the physical environment and the host communities. The Council will co operate with the Borough Council in encouraging the role of Kilkenny City as a major tourism destination

The Council will support the integrated regional approach taken by Bord Failte and the South East Regional Tourism Organisation and Kilkenny to raise the profile of the South East as a tourism destination in its own right.

Kilkenny County Council is committed to the development and expansion of Tourism within the County and will continue to support the activities of organisations such as Bord Failte, S.E.R.T.A, LEADER, Kilkenny City and County Tourism and Local Development Groups in the promotion and development of Kilkenny City and County as a tourist destination.

It will be the policy of the Council in its role as a Planning Authority to support the development and expansion of tourism within the County by:

(a) Protecting and enhancing existing resources and to facilitate activities based tourism facilities throughout the County, subject to the requirements of development control set out in this plan.

(b) Encouraging the development of agri-tourism in rural areas.

(c) Encouraging the provision of indoor and activities based tourism facilities and events which extend the tourism season .

(d) Preserving the views of special amenity value throughout the County.

(e) Consulting with Bord Failte, SERTO, Kilkenny Tourism and local tourism groups in order to improve the adequacy of directional sign posting for tourists within the County.

(f) Co-operating with the Kilkenny Borough Council in encouraging the role of Kilkenny City as a major tourism destination.

(g) Supporting the marketing of Kilkenny through the initiatives of the Kilkenny Marketing Strategy Group and Kilkenny Tourism

(h) Preserving the scenic and landscape beauty of the County.

(i) Encouraging the development of outdoor recreational /leisure activities which are based on the natural amenities and resources of an area.

(j) Providing public rights of way to places of special beauty, amenity or recreational value or having views of outstanding quality. The Council shall also seek the preservation and maintenance and improvement of all existing rights of way to such areas.

(k) Providing a significant level of investment in the provision of roads and sanitary services infrastructure which will help to foster the development of Tourism within the County.

In order to maximise the benefits of tourism for the City and County it is an objective of the Council to prepare a Kilkenny Tourism Plan during the period of this Plan in co operation with other relevant bodies and tourism interests.

Cultural development should be seen as an integral part of the overall development of the County. The culture of a County, City or town is one of the crucial aspects which distinguishes it from other counties or cities. It includes speech, language, theatre, music painting, dance, literature, photography, architecture and more. Knowledge and awareness of the distinct cultural experience of a place or an area is necessary if cultural development is to take place; such knowledge links the past with the present and the future and helps provide a community with a sense of place of its cultural identity.

The Council provides financial assistance within the limits of its resources towards the development of the Arts and considers that a multi faceted cultural activity has an important contribution to, make in the lives of residents in the County as well as in tourism development.

Kilkenny Arts week, the Kilkenny Design Centre and the Cats Laughs comedy festival have fulfilled an important role in the cultural development of the County and have raised the profile of the county internationally.

A need has been identified for a multipurpose Arts Resource centre for the City and County, which will be available to all sections of the community for its artistic and cultural development.

It will be Council Policy to:

a) Promote the development of the Arts in the County through a variety of measures and in consultation with the Arts Council the Crafts Council and other relevant bodies.
b) To draw up a policy for the development of the Arts throughout the County within the period of the plan.

a) It is an objective of the Council to prepare a development plan for the Arts within City and County during the period of this plan.
b) It is an objective of the Council to provide an Arts Resource Centre for the City and County.