Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan 2024-2029

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2024 - 2029 AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE CITY LET’S PLAN TOGETHER

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2024 - 2029

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Contents

4 5 6

Foreword Lord Mayor Foreword Chief Executive Foreword Chairperson LCDC

Executive Summary

Our City, Our Future

3. Statement Of Commitment To Our Public Sector Equality And Human Rights Duty 16

Introduction

What Informed The LECP?

Vision, Values, Goals and Cross-Cutting Themes

A City of Health & Wellbeing

A City Built on Partnership, Inclusion and Equality

A City of Learning and Culture

10. A City Driving Economic and Enterprise Development

11. A City of Safe, Accessible and Resilient Neighbourhoods 88

12.

A City Leading On Sustainability and Climate Action

13. How Do We Monitor Our Progress

102

106 111 113 116 118

Glossary of Terms

Acronyms References

Acknowledgements

Appendices

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Foreword Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor

The Local Economic and Community Plan embodies a unique and exciting meeting of the policies which impact our everyday lives in Cork City. This plan considers the fabrics of our communities, the layout for our public places, the opportunities people have for accessing services, and the safety nets for those in our society who need support the most. In my time as Lord Mayor and long before, I have spoken about the coat of arms of our city which features the message ‘Statio Bene Fida Carinis’ or ‘A safe harbour for ships’ and how this represents Cork City as a safe harbour for all. This message is very much interwoven through the pages of this Policy, a safe city, a city of welcomes, a sanctuary and place of belonging and potential. Our attention is often caught by exciting, big budget plans which focus on the transformation of the built environment and large infrastructural projects. These dynamic opportunities are energizing and will deliver huge impact to Cork City. We place just as much value on the local policies that guide how our communities and economy are developed. These are owned by the whole city and implemented by many partners- by the local authority, partner agencies and organisations, by communities and by individual members of those communities.

Perhaps this is what makes the LECP so unique – it is owned by everyone who is invested in making Cork a great place to live, work, study and visit. I hope that the goals and ideas contained in it provide inspiration to all our community stakeholders to take action locally, whether that be to improve pride of place with a community greening initiative, by hosting a community learning initiative in their locality or exploring partnerships to establish community business hubs. The action plan here provides the framework within which the richness of grassroots ideas can grow and develop. Let this message be clear – Cork City Council and all its partners in this policy will support community activity, which furthers the ambitious goals contained within this document. Cork has a proud heritage, and strong sense of place and a clear identity as a growing, thriving city. The LECP reinforces all of these and lays out a promising vision for how as a city we will continue to welcome, nurture, and encourage all those who call it home.

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy Lord Mayor

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Foreword Ann Doherty, Chief Executive

Cork is a growing, evolving city, and with projected growth to a potential 353,500 Corkonians by 2040. As a city we are concerned with the lived experience of each and every one of those people, each community, each workplace and each education setting. We believe that this Plan represents a huge step to positively impact on the quality of life for all, especially the most vulnerable. Through a process of carefully considered and meaningful public consultation, teamed with socio economic analysis of our city and its structures, this LECP takes a holistic view of Cork City, and maps out a way forward which is considerate of all, and responsive to new challenges. This LECP exists within the honeycomb of Cork City Council plans and policies designed to complement the City Development Plan. I would like to offer the resounding gratitude of Cork City Council to all those State agencies, community organisations, social enterprises, voluntary groups, consultees, stakeholders and all participants to the Public Consultation for the contributions they have made not only to ‘Pure Cork’ and the rich and diverse community life of our city, but also to the process of defining our visions and hope for our new city which this Plan enshrines. We look forward to working side by side on this journey.

Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, the development of the Local Economic and Community Plan, a practical, action-based plan to progress the intentions of regional and city-wide policy and strategies, is a statutory responsibility of local government. This new Local Economic and Community Plan comes at an exciting time for Cork City. At a time of great change and major development, the LECP underlines the commitment the city holds to investing in and caring for its communities and social economy. The process of reviewing ‘Pure Cork’ 2016-2021 gave Cork City Council the chance to reflect on the journey we have been on since that plan was developed. Many of the structures which now underpin our local economic and community development were in their infancy in the early years of ‘Pure Cork’, yet the aspirations contained in ‘Pure Cork’ were ambitious and bold. The city is proud of our efforts- 87% of the deliverables outlines in ‘Pure Cork’ were achieved within the first year. 97% were completed or continued by the conclusion of the plan. Many of the objectives were exceeded, and this has only whetted the appetite of Cork City Council and its valued stakeholders and partners to strive for greater ambition. Partnership, shared goals, and common vision are features which shone through both Pure Cork and the policy you are reading now. Our city’s work in the community sector and on local economy has always been dependent on that strong foundation of inter-agency work and common vision. In many ways, the kind of actions and goals contained here showcase the best of public service. This work is rooted in strong values of accountability and transparency, fairness, respect, and equality.

Ann Doherty Chief Executive

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Foreword Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Chairperson, Cork City LCDC

The Department of Rural and Community Development’s (DRCD) published the Guidelines for the development of the Local Economic and Community Plans in November 2021. The process for the final review of the Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan ‘Pure Cork’, 2016-2021 began in 2022 and so began a journey the LCDC has steered, supported, collaborated on to produce such an ambitious but deliverable new plan. The LCDC is extremely proud of the partnerships that have delivered on one LECP and will now be forged, challenged and champion , the 122 actions within this next LECP, ‘Let’s Plan Together, An Action Plan for the City’. The name does indeed capture the nature of the work involved in the development of this document. Collaboration was key, partnership was purposeful in its content, its goals, its actions, and bringing it to final publication. The public consultation process involved in this LECP offered people a real and meaningful opportunity to shape the ethos, the development, the direction, and the delivery of the plan. Many individuals, organisations, academics, and professionals came together to state clearly, ‘We Are Cork’, and we care. We care about our most vulnerable people, we care about our communities, we care about our economy, and we care about a just transition on climate action and therefore we care about the generations yet to be born. The implementation and monitoring of the LECP over the next six years will be informed by input from the LCDC, where the LECP progress will continue to be a standing agenda item at our monthly meetings. The implementation now becomes our new emphasis and delivery will be measured and time taken to review and revamp the plan to ensure it meets its targets. This plan compliments the City Development Plan and they combine well to encompass the full potential to increase the quality of life for those who call Cork home. As Chairperson, I wish to pay my highest respect and gratitude to all involved in the delivery of this LECP. Your combined effort is a testament to your commitment to the brighter future it holds. The plan will create many opportunities and undoubtedly be met with many challenges which we will face in the Cork way, together in partnership and solidarity. Ní neart a cur le Chéile. Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, Chairperson, Cork City LCDC

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Executive Summary 1.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

The aim of the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) is to improve the quality of life for all those who live, work, study in, or visit Cork City. The LECP’s goals and actions have a special focus on those who have not been able to thrive in the city and those who have a high need of the services and supports available across the city. Every effort was made during the public consultation process to seek out and listen to the seldom heard voices in our city. In this way, it is hoped that the plan reflects their needs and demonstrates policymaking where no one is left behind. The plan also reflects a shared vision within Cork City Council and with our external partners, as to how our city will evolve over the coming 6 years. In 2015, the Cork City Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), and Cork City Council started a new journey to develop the first LECP. This LECP 2016 – 2021 is known as ‘Pure Cork- An Action Plan for the City’ also referred to as ‘Pure Cork’. As Pure Cork entered its final phase, its ability to adapt was tested by the Covid-19 global pandemic and the increase of refugees seeking protection from persecution and conflict. Cork City stood strong and proved it can face any challenge. Partnerships were proven, and our community spirit was unwavering. Our collaborative approach to these challenges ensured that Cork City excelled as a city of welcomes. Pure Cork became a testament to the value of growing relationships, people-centred partnerships, educational attainments, and economic growth and development. This was evidenced in the completion of 87% of its actions. The bar was set high for this new LECP. The LCDC and Cork City Council recognise there are ongoing challenges. Inequality, discrimination, social inclusion, educational attainment, unemployment, health accessibility and creating sustainable neighbourhoods all remain as issues to be improved upon. We equally recognise the need to facilitate behavioural changes to increase climate mitigation and adaptation. This plan sets out the details of the next stage of our challenging but exciting journey and aims to enhance the quality of life for all who live in and visit our beautiful city.

What Informed The LECP? An extensive process of conversations, engagements, surveys, consultation and gathering information began almost two years ago to assist us in the process of developing this LECP. Wide Range of Stakeholders This process brought together many individuals, groups, partners, academics and professional experts. Cork City Council and the LCDC are extremely encouraged by the level of engagement over the last two years and inspired by how our city stakeholders collaborate at all levels to make things happen. of ‘Pure Cork’s’ actions were completed by 2021. 87%

Values Driving This Plan This plan is not just thinking of ‘the now’, but it is also visualising what is to come. It will prepare us for future challenges. As a city, we must meet these challenges with strong values that underpin how we react and respond. Principled, people-centred values underpin this plan, and these values must be protected in their approach to health accessibility, inclusion, integration, educational attainment, economic ups and downs, and a just transition to climate change. The values we hold will shape our progress. Our values will undoubtedly be tested. However, values led by achievable goals increase better outcomes for all. Later in this document, you will read more about these values and how they have been derived from Cork City Council’s corporate plan as well as the principles of inclusive community engagement.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Our educational institutions - including University College Cork (UCC), Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) – our young people, our older people, our communities of interest, the business community, and all our engaged partners invested their time and energy at various stages to inform this work. This plan is shaped by :

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A review of the LECP 2016 – 2021

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A review of relevant community and economic policy Socio-economic and climate related analysis

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Cork City Council internal collaboration

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Broad and extensive stakeholder engagement, and A highly engaged public consultation process

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You can read further on each these steps in chapter 5 of this plan and the appendix. We will now summarise the findings of the public consultation process. Public Consultation Findings One of the most commonly occurring themes from the public consultation is the call for more equality and inclusion . The consultation identified a strong sense of people’s need for social justice.

They highlighted the needs of:

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People with disabilities

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Single parents

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Older people

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Young people

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Migrants and those with migrant background

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The Traveller community, and

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LGBTI+ groups

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

High-level Goals For 2024 – 2029 This plan incorporates realistic and achievable goals, objectives and actions that will deliver real impacts.

The consultations also highlighted the value of having a more city-wide approach to community and economic development especially in the area of integration. Ensuring safety across the city, both city centre and residential areas, featured strongly in our public survey. There was a clear call for increased community-level partnership with Cork City Council and more community resourcing . The survey also identified a need for enhanced partnership with universities and institutes of further education to advance education attainment in all communities. Improved accessibility to services also featured very strongly in consultation feedback. This ranged from making community facilities and businesses more accessible, providing training and skills to young people in communities with poor socio-economic outcomes, to making arts, culture and library facilities more accessible. The written submissions reflected the city’s potential for placemaking and investment in community infrastructure. This included revitalising the city centre and city suburban areas, the rejuvenation of the Dockland areas and derelict buildings and the creation of a connected, chain of green spaces and riverfront amenities. Overall, the feedback highlighted areas of public concern that impact all our lives. In particular, it calls for us to address the issues faced by the most vulnerable . The LCDC, Cork City Council and partner organisations will keep this focus as it implements the actions of the LECP over the next 6 years.

In this plan, we have six high-level goals.

A city valuing health and wellbeing.

A city built on partnership, inclusion, and equality.

A city of learning and culture.

A city driving economic and enterprise development.

A city of safe, accessible and resilient neighbourhoods and communities.

A city leading on sustainability and climate action.

Each of the six high-level goals is aligned with relevant policy and informed by up-to-date statistics and extensive consultation. From each of these goals, a set of objectives and actions flow. These drive the goals forward and ensure this plan is backed by action. You can read further into each of the goals in their respective chapters. However, no single chapter works in isolation – chapters are often inter-connected, one lifting and complementing the other. Each high-level goal also features a case study that highlights the successes of Pure Cork and shows the practical and most impactful uses of investment, resources, planning, and economic and community development.

This is where policy meets people and partnership creates capacity.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

(Credit: Hazel Hurley)

Action Plan We have aligned the LECP actions with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as other national, regional and local plans. These actions will enable us to achieve better quality of life outcomes for all. The full action plan (in Appendix 1) lays out all 122 actions in a ‘SMART’ format – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound . It details who is going to put actions in place, and when and how we can measure the success. It is crucial that each action has at least one lead organisation and a set of collaborating partners with the specialist skills, resources, and knowledge to deliver the action. Statement of Commitment to the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty Cork City Council’s commitment to the Public Sector Duty on Equality and Human Rights threads through all the LECPs high-level goals. It is considered in each strategic objective, and it is visible throughout the action plan. The LECP Advisory Group and staff team ensured the Duty was highlighted in the public consultations and stakeholder meetings. How Will We Monitor Our Progress? The monitoring of progress is a crucial element of this LECP. We commit to authentic and transparent monitoring of our progress as laid out in Chapter 13 of this plan. Collaborative Monitoring Monitoring and evaluation will be led by the LCDC but done in collaboration with all implementing partners. It will be informed by the principle of respect for partners and their capacity to deliver on actions. Collaboration and co-operation are key components of delivering on the actions. Ongoing Monitoring Every year, the LCDC will hold a special meeting to review the progress of the LECP action plan. A full review will take place every two years over the course of the six-year plan. This review will invite all implementing partners and wider Cork City stakeholders to input. Goals and actions will be examined for relevance and achievement. Indicators will be quantified and reviewed if necessary. New actions will be considered. A revised action plan will be published in year 2 (2026) and year 4 (2028) of the plan. A final review will take place in 2030.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Cork City Council will also monitor the LECP action plan as part of their annual reporting and service delivery plan obligations, as well as through their reporting of the Public Sector Duty to Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Conclusion The depth and breadth of any plan is in the detail and in the case of the LECP, the detail is contained in the action plan. It demonstrates our ambition and commitment to partnership working. It also shows the high level of committed individuals and organisations working towards the same goal- of making Cork City the best it can be. In developing this LECP, we did our utmost to reach and connect with as many stakeholders as possible. We sought out and listened to many seldom heard voices. We asked for innovative and ambitious project ideas. This document represents the richness of these conversations, and the Council and its delivery partners are committed to seeing this work through. In turn, this plan should be read as an invitation to everyone to take up action and feel an ownership of the vision contained within. We urge you to engage further with this work by reviewing the action plan which accompanies this document and consider connecting with some of the organisations so that you can get involved in the delivery of this ambitious action plan for our city.

Contact community@corkcity.ie for more information and to speak to one of our community team.

Our City, Our Future 2.

Cork City, a port city nestled along the Lee, holds a rich tapestry of history, culture, and potential that shapes its identity and paves the way for its future.

As we envision “Our City, Our Future” , it is essential to recognise the unique blend of tradition and modernity that defines Cork. Cork City’s history is a fascinating journey spanning well over a millennium, marked by its strategic location, economic significance and cultural vibrancy. A port city by its nature it’s a city of diversity, enriched by absorbing waves of new cultures and new ideas with a living identity inflected with hints of the past. That strong sense of identity we feel in the present that seems fixed, and yet is an ever-evolving fabric, made more colourful and stronger with the more threads we weave.

A city is a complex and dynamic entity shaped by an ecosystem of interconnected elements. At its core, a city is characterized by;

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Population density

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Infrastructure

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Economic activity

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Cultural and social fabric

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Governance, accessibility and connectivity

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Education and knowledge,

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Healthcare facilities

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Green spaces

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Security and safety

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

In many of these parameters, we are thriving. Cork City has a vibrant cultural scene and is a designated UNESCO Learning City, a WHO Healthy City and a Rainbow City. Our participation in the EU Mission on Climate- Neutral and Smart Cities means the city is going one step further and striving to go ‘net zero’ through innovative and bold action. We are one of the best cities in the EU for economic development and GDP and an economic driver of the South-West region. This plan is being published at a time when Cork City is entering a period of unprecedented transformation. Cork City Council plans to invest billions into some of the biggest, and most-anticipated, projects set to improve how we live, work and enjoy our city over the coming years. Up to €2.5 billion is being invested into the city to make it greener, more connected and ultimately more livable for the projected 353,500 of us who will call Cork home by 2040 (an increase of 129,500 from today’s population).

We are on track to exceed ambitious new social housing targets, with €1.9 billion in housing delivered by 2026 . By 2028, employment in the city is expected to grow by 35,000.

8 new train stations by 2040.

The challenge that we face, and that’s particularly relevant to this local economic and community plan, is to ensure that the most marginalised and vulnerable people in Cork City benefit from this growth and investment and that it is balanced citywide. The growth must also be sustainable, leading to a green economy. We must build communities , not just buildings and infrastructure. We hope you will read this plan and its accompanying action plan and feel hopeful that inclusion and community building are at its heart. Afterall, Cork City is a city of communities. While we cannot have a map for the future, we must have a compass, and a shared vision to work towards. This local economic and community plan was shaped by a broad public consultation and hopes to provide some direction we can take, as we navigate the path to an inclusive future for all.

¤2.5 billion

investment for the city to make it greener and more connected.

There are also major plans afoot to increase and enhance our green spaces and utilise the river for tourism and recreation. We are set to plant 4,000 trees this year alone! How we travel will be transformed by the €3.5 billion being invested in the Cork Metropolitan Area that will see bus services increase by over 50% by 2026 , over 30km of cycle lanes are under

construction or in the pipeline and 8 new train stations by 2040 with a frequency every 15 minutes to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh.

3. Statement Of Commitment To Our Public Sector Equality And Human Rights Duty

All public bodies in Ireland have a legal responsibility to promote equality and prevent discrimination. They must protect the human rights of:

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is responsible for the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty. IHREC says public bodies should consult with the relevant people and groups to gather evidence so that they can effectively put the Public Sector Duty in place.

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Employees

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Customers

This Duty means public bodies must:

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Service users

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Everyone affected by their policies and plans

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Carry out an assessment of equality and human rights within the organisation and the services it provides Develop policies, plans and actions to address these issues

This is known as the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty. 1

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Report annually on progress and achievements in relation to those actions

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Our Commitment to the Public Sector Duty

Our commitment can also be seen in the range of actions in this plan targeting parts of our communities that have missed socio-economic opportunity. We did this by focusing on each of the nine grounds of discrimination as outlined in Ireland’s Equality Legislation 2 . Many of the LECP actions are committed to eliminating discrimination while promoting equality of opportunity and treatment. We are committed to doing this for our staff and for the people who use our services. We are also committed to protecting the human rights of staff and the service users. These aims are shared by the Members of the LCDC.

Cork City Council has been committed to putting the Public Sector Duty in place from early on in its inception when in 2017 we nominated our organisation to be the urban local authority for the IHREC pilot project. Since then, a working group from across our organisation has been embedding the Public Sector Duty into our:

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People strategy (this is our strategy for staff)

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Corporate planning process

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Organisational activities and plans

This working group has been led by our People and Organisation Development Directorate. Our aim is that human rights and equality matters evolve from a statutory duty on public bodies to being an integral part of our organisational culture –

‘the way we do things around here’.

In preparing this LECP we have been committed to applying and embedding the Public Sector Duty and demonstrate policymaking that leaves no one behind.

You can see this in our public consultation process where we:

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Used inclusive community engagement principles ,

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Strove to seek out, encourage and listen to seldom heard voices

Read Chapter 5.6 on the Public Consultation for more information.

Introduction 4.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

The Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2024–2029 will guide economic and community development in our city over the next six years.

This LECP (2024-2029) provides the framework for the local economic development and community development of Cork City. The LECP should also be the main way at local level to bring forward relevant actions arising from national and regional strategies. For example, in the ‘Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 8 ’ national strategy, there is a recommendation to ‘Support Communities’ by ‘Encouraging Volunteerism’. We have addressed this recommendation for Cork City in several of our actions, particularly action 2.1.3 9 - ‘In collaboration with the community and voluntary sector support and promote a sustainable model of volunteerism in Cork City, creating voluntary opportunities for all ages and abilities and for those experiencing exclusion’ in chapter ‘Partnership, Inclusion and Equality’. You will see this local actioning of national and regional plans throughout the LECP action plan. What Is Local Community Development? The Cork City LCDC understanding of local community development is as a way of working with individuals, groups, and organisations in a local community to identify their needs and address issues and concerns.

The plan outlines the goals, objectives and actions to be implemented over this period. We will carry out this plan directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. LECPs are statutory plans meaning all local authorities in Ireland must develop one. They are set out and mandated in the Local Government Reform Act 2014 3 . This Act provides a stronger and clearer role for local government in economic development and community development. This is a key element in achieving the vision set out in ‘Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government’ 4 : “Local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level, leading economic, social and community development..” 5

This LECP is building on the achievements of past plans such as:

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Imagine Our Future - 2002-2012

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Pure Cork – LECP 2016 – 2021 6

These plans strengthened inter-agency and partnership working across the city. This helped Cork City to become, for example, a:

It works to meet those needs and solve issues by developing:

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Infrastructure such as parks, play areas and community centres Programmes such as the Sláintecare, RAPID and SICAP programmes Initiatives such as the Pride of Place Awards, Africa Day and LGBTI+ Awareness Week Services such as libraries, community learning and Community Wardens

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UNESCO Learning City

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WHO Healthy City

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WHO Age Friendly City

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Rainbow City

• A Fast-Track City 7 These plans also helped Cork City achieve successes in many other areas.

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Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Local community development can help to build a sense of community by connecting people together and collaborating on local projects and groups. It is a powerful tool to empower communities, promote civic engagement and build social inclusion.

Find out about our community development work on the Cork City Council community page: www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/ services/community/

What is Community Development? by Viv Sadd, Project Coordinator, Mahon Community Development Project

It involves providing participation opportunities through local programmes, training and projects where people can build self-esteem, confidence, trust and capacity. This ‘bottom up’ approach to capacity building strengthens and connects the community. Individuals connect and are empowered, and a local and wider collective and collaborative partnership approach between groups and agencies is developed. This whole process is underpinned with the principles of empowerment, equality, and social inclusion.”

“It is about people, their neighbourhood, and their community. It is a process where people come together to take actions on what is important to them.” “At a foundation level community development is getting to know the people, who they are and what they need and want, and getting to know the local resources and facilities, what is there and what is missing and what is needed. It is about developing a shared vision, an action plan and making it happen.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

What is Local Economic Development? Local economic development is the promotion of economic growth and stability in a specific geographical area. This can be in a variety of ways including:

people living in the city to thrive. The LECP can also help to attract funding to develop community and economic infrastructure and facilities. This includes things like:

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Business support hubs

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Attracting and retaining new business

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Training centres

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Creating jobs

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Community centres

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Supporting people to start their own businesses and social enterprises

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Play areas

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Parks

Why Have a Local Economic and Community Plan? It is important for local communities to have a plan for their future. A plan gives different stakeholders a roadmap and a shared vision to follow. The roadmap helps to make sure that everyone is working together towards the same goal.

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Community gardens

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Sports facilities

Why Have a Plan That Integrates Community and Economic Development? An integrated plan can help to identify the various needs of businesses and the local community and try to meet those needs together. A good example are social enterprises whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders. A local example of a social enterprise is ‘The Crann Centre 10 ’, situated on the outskirts of Ballincollig, they provide life-long solutions for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities. They offer a Career Pathways service where clients can avail of their fully-inclusive and accessible co-working space ‘The Impact Hub’ as well as access key business supports from The Rubicon Centre, Cork City LEO office and the Open Doors Initiative to support them to transition into the workplace or set-up their own business. There are many other ways an integrated plan makes sense.

“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” (African proverb)

This LECP includes actions on:

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Promoting economic growth

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Creating jobs

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Making our neighbourhoods more resilient and sustainable Improving the safety and quality of life for residents

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What The Local Economic and Community Plan Is Not?

The LECP is not a land-use/spatial plan. This means it does not plan for where new houses, offices, roads or other infrastructure are built and installed. The City Development plan and the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Plan and other such plans provide this function. However, the LECP is vital in building the communities and economies that emerge from our city places. It helps support the

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Identify and Provide Needed Skills Integrated plans can identify what skills are needed by businesses and offer targeted skills-training in that community. This helps build an educated and skilled workforce at local level that will in turn help to attract new businesses into the area. Economic and Community plans can also identify the skills already in local communities so that suitable businesses are attracted into the area. Perceived barriers to employment like poor literacy, different abilities and inadequate childcare can also be identified and services created to help people to overcome those barriers. Cork City can also attract new employment by creating nice, welcoming spaces with a vibrant art, culture, social and sporting scene. This all helps create a compact city where people live near where they work or attend education. This reduces commuting and congestion and improves social networks and the health of a community and its environment.

Who Will This Plan Benefit? This plan targets two different types of communities as follows:

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Communities of geography: these communities are based in a specific neighbourhood or geographical part of the city Communities of interest or identity: these communities have a common sense of identity or set of needs and a can be spread out across the city

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Communities of Geography There are many different ways a geographical community can be related, for example:

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A residents’ group on one street

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A neighbourhood such as Montenotte, Ballyvolane or Knocknaheeny

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A parish such as Ballyphehane, Blackrock and Ballincollig

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The city centre

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City suburbs

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Urban towns such as Ballincollig, Glanmire, Tower and Blarney More rural parts of the city hinterland such as Kerry Pike and White’s Cross

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Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Communities of Interest A community of interest is a group of people who have a common sense of identity and set of needs. In the case of the LECP, the communities of interest are those that are most at risk of exclusion, deprivation and/or discrimination. We have highlighted several communities of interest to focus on in this plan, as follows (they are not ranked in order of importance): • Disabled people/people with a disability • Single parents • Migrants and new communities • The Travelling Community • LGBTI+ community • People and families experiencing addiction • People and families experiencing homelessness • Long-term unemployed • Older people • Young people • Women

This plan is a whole-of-city plan and will target communities across the city. However, there is a strong focus in this LECP on RAPID areas 11 . These are areas in the city that are designated as disadvantaged. There are four such areas in Cork City as follows:

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Knocknaheeny-Hollyhill-Churchfield

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Blackpool-The Glen-Mayfield

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Fairhill-Gurranabraher-Farranree

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Togher-Mahon-Ballyphehane

This plan also recognises the need to focus our actions on other areas experiencing disadvantage outside RAPID areas.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Intersectional Policymaking Oftentimes a person may fall into more than one of the above categories. For example, a person may be an older LGBTI+ Migrant, a single parent with a disabled child living in a RAPID area, a Traveller experiencing addiction and homelessness that also has a disability. So, a person can often be experiencing discrimination and marginalisation on many different fronts. Intersectional policymaking requires active integration in a thorough and comprehensive way. We have aimed to apply an intersectional lens when developing this LECP and have tried to include actions that take into account intersectional marginalisations. How Was The Plan Developed? The process for developing the LECP was set out in the 2021 LECP guidelines 12 and the stages are outlined in Figure 4.2 on the following page. Before we embarked on stage one, we reviewed the outgoing LECP 2016– 2021 entitled ‘Pure Cork’ 13 .

Cork City Council set up an Advisory Group 14 to oversee the process.

A range of stakeholders are involved in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the plan (see Figure 4.3 on page 25).

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Socio-Economic Statement and High-Level Goals Based On Socio-Economic Analysis

Preparation By Advisory Group. Sign Off By SPC and LCDC

Stage 1 Preparation

Socio-economic Analysis

Public Consultation on High-Level Goals

Revision Of Statement Based On Consultation

Preparation By Advisory Group. Sign Off By SPC and LCDC

Stage 2 Preparation

Stage 3 Develop Objectives and Outcomes

Develop Detailed Objectives And Outcomes

Preparation By Advisory Group. Sign Off By SPC And LCDC

Final Draft To Mds and Ras For Input

SPC and LCDC To Adopt Final Draft Reflecting MD and RA Input

Stage 4 Finalise Plan

La To Approve Final Draft

Submission To Minister and Published By LA

Stage 5 Implementation

Consideration Of Available Resources

Ongoing Flexible Implementation

Implementation Plans

Kpis To Address Proposed Outcomes

Ongoing Data Collection Including Case Studies

Stage 6 Monitoring and Evaluation

Implementation Report

Figure 4.2: Stages we followed to develop this LECP.

LECP Advisory Group

Statutory Interests

Sector Interests

Community Development Groups/PPNs/Public

Local Authority Elected Officials

Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) Implementation Plans

Business and Enterprise Interests

Local Authority Officials

Tourism and Hospitality Sector Bodies

Government Departments and State Agencies

Environment/Climate Action Groups

Regional Assemblies

LCDC and Partner Community Actions

Economic SPC Actions

Figure 4.3: Stakeholders involved in preparing, implementing and evaluating the LECP

What Informed the LECP? 5.

Cork City Council developed this plan using information gathered through the following processes:

• A policy review of relevant active policies, strategies and plans. • A review of the last LECP 2016 - 2021 ‘Pure Cork- An Action Plan for the City’ • Socio-economic analysis • Climate related analysis • SCOT analysis • A public consultation and stakeholder engagement

This chapter gives you an overview of each of these processes. You can find out more about each process in the appendices.

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

5.1 Policy Review The LECP is one plan amongst a whole range of international, national, regional and local plans that work together to guide local planning and development.

Project Ireland 2040 Project Ireland 2040 is the government’s long-term overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all of its people. It includes the:

•

National Development Plan (NDP)

Some policies such as the National Development Plan are set by central

•

National Planning Framework (NPF)

government and are high level while others, like the LECP, are applied at a local authority level. The LECP focuses on guiding local community and economic development. The LECP must align with the national, regional and local policies laid out in Figure 5.1.1 on this page. The LECP must also support the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as described below and the Public Sector Duty as outlined in chapter 3. As well as these, there are many other strategies and policies that the LECP should align with and support. Due to the high volume of these relevant policies, we commissioned a review 15 . The review identified 75 active community, social, economic and environmental plans, policies and strategies. This review helped us choose our LECP high-level goals and actions that supported important plans without their actions. These policies are referenced in each of the high- level goal chapters 7 to 12.

Project Ireland 2040 sets ambitious targets for Cork City and identifies the Local Economic and Community Plan as a key part of the overall process for national transformation. Cork City is now firmly embedded in national strategic policy as the ‘growth city’ in the country. National policy recognises that of all cities outside of Dublin, Cork City has the greatest capacity to sustainably scale up to absorb population growth and leverage opportunity. This is why Cork City is often referred to as a ‘City of Scale’. Crucially, this government ambition is supported by substantial exchequer funding.

NATIONAL NPF & NDP

REGIONAL Spatial & Economic Strategy

By law, the LECP must be consistent with the following plans:

CITY Cork City Development Plan

•

Project Ireland 2040

•

Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2020–2032 Cork City Development Plan 2022 - 2028

LOCAL Local Economic & Community Plan

•

Figure 5.1.1: National, Regional and Local Hierarchy of Policy Framework.

active community, social, economic and environmental plans, policies and strategies relevant to the Cork City LECP. 75

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2020–2032 The RSES 16 is a strategic regional development framework for the Southern region of Ireland. Its primary aim is to implement Project Ireland 2040 at a regional level and to support the achievement of balanced regional development. The aim of the Strategy is to make the Southern Region one of Europe’s most creative and innovative, greenest and liveable regions. This overarching Strategy is based on 11 Strategy Statements, focused on Regional Policy Objectives (RPOs) and Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) Policy Objectives. The RSES includes regional priorities for Cork City. A key component of the RSES is about building partnerships and a collaborative approach between the cities and metropolitan areas to realise combined strengths and potential, and to support their development as a viable alternative to Dublin. Examples of this include Cork to Limerick Transport and Economic Network/axis and the Cork to Waterford Transport and Economic Network/axis. The RSES sets out a vision for Cork City in its Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP). This plan identifies various strategic employment locations, metropolitan towns and regeneration areas.

The RSES objectives that the LECP must support:

•

RPO 6: greater collaboration between Metropolitan Areas (Cork, Limerick- Shannon, Waterford, and Galway) as viable alternatives to the unbalanced growth of Dublin. The Cork to Waterford Transport and Economic Network/axis . Positioning the Southern Region as Ireland’s International Gateway through sustainable development of assets such as the Tier 1 International Port of Cork and Cork Airport, Ireland’s second airport. The Smart Southern Region initiative which seeks to work with people and communities on collaborations across all sectors to harness digital and data to create vibrant, sustainable and liveable communities, including Cork’s Role as a Smart Gateway City. The development of Metropolitan and Regional Scale Amenities including development of Blue

•

Placemaking and the 10-minute Town approach to sustainable development in all settlements. Compact Growth is supported under RPO 10 and RPO 35. The 5 principles of the RSES Economic Strategy: Smart Specialisation; Clustering; Placemaking for enterprise development; Knowledge Diffusion; and Capacity Building. The development of Cork City as a UNESCO Learning City Sustainable development of the unique cultural, built, and natural heritage of Cork and leverage of its location as a significant domestic and international tourist destination. The role of Cork City as a WHO Healthy City. The unique linguistic and cultural heritage of our region’s Gaeltacht areas and Cork City as a Gaeltacht Service Town under MASP Policy Objective 4. Climate Action through Climate Resilient Development, land-use, and transition to a low carbon future.

•

Green Infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

•

Cork City’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2024 - 2029

Cork City Development Plan 2022–2028 The 2022-2028 Cork City Development Plan sets out how the city will grow and develop up to 2028. It also complements a longer 2040 vision. For the first time, this statutory plan also encompasses the urban towns of Ballincollig, Blarney, Tower and Glanmire and their wider hinterland areas. With a population of more than 224,000, Cork City is an emerging international city of scale and a national driver of economic and urban growth. Project Ireland 2040 designates Cork City for significant additional growth over the next 20 years. This will be supported by large scale investment. City Development Plan’s Strategic Objectives The Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 sets out how the city can best enable this growth and investment over the next six years. We will do this while keeping Cork City an innovative, vibrant, healthy and resilient city. The LECP helps to realise many of the strategic objectives laid out in the development plan and we reference these specifically in each of the high-level goal chapters 7 to 12.

The main overarching objectives relevant to the LECP are:

•

Strategic objective 2: Delivering homes and communities Strategic objective 6: Economy and enterprise Strategic objective 7: Heritage, arts and culture Strategic objective 9: Placemaking and management development

•

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Each LECP will be developed using the principles of sustainable development. (This is specified in article 66B 17 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014.) The United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim by 2030 to:

•

End poverty

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Fight inequality and injustice

•

Tackle climate change.

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