Chapter 3 I Delivering Homes and Communities
3.64 To enable Cork City Council, developers, infra- structure providers and communities to better anticipate the children-orientated infrastructure needed to support individual development schemes or multiple schemes in an area, Cork City Council will prepare an appraisal tool to indicate the likely number of children that will arise from a development across different age cohorts and translate this data into indicative childcare, education and open space needs. It will represent an enabling tool informed by international best practice that will help stakeholders anticipate and provide for new or expanded facilities. 3.65 Cork City Council has supported a number of consultation processes that engage with children and young people for example with the annual visit by the Lord Mayor to each school in the City, and specific initiatives undertaken in partnership with Healthy Cities and UCC and with the Young Social Innovators. The City Council will continue to find innovative means of engaging with children and young people through our consultation processes and engaging with stakeholders such as Comhairle na NÓg. Cork City Council remains committed to encouraging changes that are designed to improve the lives of children by providing for their needs, security and safety. 3.66 The term ‘childcare’ extends beyond crèches to also include full day-care, part-time care, and sessional facilities, pre-school and school-age (after-school) services. Childcare benefits children’s education and social development whilst allowing parents and carers flexibility to pursue other activity including participation in the workforce. The provision of childcare facilities forms an integral consideration as part of all new development proposals. 3.67 The provision of childcare should be addressed where, or within walking distance to where the need arises. In accordance with the Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2001), new residential developments of more than 75 homes will be expected to provide purpose-built as part of the development unless it can be demonstrated there is sufficient capacity in existing facilities. Large employment development, either new devel- opments or expansion of existing developments, will be required to provide childcare facilities.
In large scale retail, leisure or tourism developments, the provision of a drop-in childcare facilities will also be encouraged. Chapter 11 Placemaking and Managing Development lists development management considerations and references the Government Guidelines: “We Like This Place - Guidelines for Best Practice in the Design of Childcare Facilities” (2005).
Traveller Community Facilities 3.68
In accordance with the Traveller Accommodation Plan 2019-2024 it is recognised that horses are an important part of Traveller culture and form a key part of the community’s needs. A Horse Project will be developed in the City to help meet the needs of the Traveller community in the key areas including education, animal welfare and management. This land use will be most suited to ZO-21 City Hinterland.
A Learning City 3.69
The importance of education and learning cannot be underestimated in terms of its importance in improving people’s quality of life and addressing social and economic disadvantage. In 2015, Cork City was presented with a UNESCO Learning City Award recognising progress made in developing lifelong learning for all, and in doing so enhancing the inclusion, prosperity and sustainable development of the city. Over the course of this Development Plan, Cork City Council will continue to support the work of the Cork Learning City initiative and working in partnership with stakeholders including University College Cork (UCC), Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) to deliver programmes such as the Learning Neighbourhoods Programme. Schools 3.70 The provision of suitable and adequate schools (primary and post-primary) is an essential element of any community and this will become more important as Cork City accommodates unprecedented population and economic growth between now and 2040.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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