Below is a list of public meetings and proposed themes, we are inviting suggestions and debate on the proposed themes. If you would like to suggest issues for discussion at the public meetings, please make a suggestion using the comments functionality at the bottom of this page. We have also provided some links to useful resources and background information. We would suggest that you try to review this information before attending a meeting in order that we will all get the best possible outcome from each of the meetings.
you can also read a transcript of this video.
|
Meeting No. |
Venue |
Date (all start at 7.30pm) |
Theme |
|
1 |
Kilkenny City, Parade Tower |
Tues. 19th June |
Smarter Travel/Pedestrianisation |
|
2 |
Thomastown, Grennan Community College |
Wed. 27th June |
Retail & Tourism |
|
3 |
Callan, Friary House |
Wed. 4th July |
Community & Rural development |
|
4 |
Castlecomer Community Hall |
Wed. 11th July |
Heritage |
|
5 |
Abbey Community College, Ferrybank |
Wed. 18th July |
Economy & Service provision |
|
6 |
Kilkenny City, Parade Tower |
Tues. 24th July |
Retail/Heritage |
|
7 |
Graiguenamanagh, Scout Hall |
Wed. 1st August |
Renewable Energy |
Comments
Meetings
Will there be any meetings on development of housing estates etc?
Meetings
Will there be meetings to discuss community development within estates in the City?
Response to Meetings
Apologies for the delayed response; a total of seven meetings are being held around the county and city during this phase of public consultation. Each of these meetings will focus on a particular theme for discussion, but there will also be room for general discussion on any other development plan related issues. The topic of Community Development will be the focus of the Callan meeting on the 7th July. In addition, all comments on any of these issues are welcome on this site.
Aarhus Convention
Will the decision by Government to finally ratify the Aarhus Convention affect the overall approach to the plan and in particular in relation to scoping for SEA?
It is a far reaching measure for communities in terms of how planning and environmental issues impact on them and it is positive that it has finally been ratified fourteen years after Ireland signed up to it.
Response to Aarhus Convention
Any Development Plan must be, as far as is practicable, be consistent with such national plans, policies or strategies as the Minister for Environment determines relate to proper planning and sustainable development. The Aarhus Convention is in the final stages of ratification by Ireland. This lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizen’s involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law; its provisions are broken down into three Pillars: Access to Information, Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making and Access to Justice.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (or SEA) is the formal evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan. The SEA process for the Development Plans starts with a scoping exercise, which determines what information should be included in the Strategic Environmental Assessment. Any submissions made by the public during this current (15th June-24th August) consultation phase that relate to environmental issues will be considered for inclusion in the scoping of the SEA. Environmental reports will be published with the Draft Plans in 2013. Further information on the SEA process is available here: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,1616,en.pdf