South Kerry Development
Partnership Ltd.
Noel Spillane CEO
February 24th 2012
Nature of our Organisation
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Integrated Local Development Company
Legal Status – Ltd Company with Charitable Status
Publicly Funded – Irish Government & EU
Established by Government in 1991 – Under the P.E.S.P
Community response to economic & Social problems
Administer a number of Irish Government & EU funded
Rural Development Programmes
– Voluntary Board of Directors – 23
– Partnership between Community, Social Partners,
Statutory Agencies and Local Government
– 40 Staff between full & part time
Nature of our Organisation – Cont’d
– Aim of SKDP Ltd is to support and assist the creation of
sustainable vibrant rural communities and improve the
lives of people living there
– Three key pillars of activity
• Enterprise & Employment
• Education & Training
• Community Development
– SKDP operates a number of EU funded Rural
Development Programmes
• Collabor8
• LEADER
• Rural Alliances
• NEES
Nature of our Organisation – Cont’d
– Irish Exchequer funded Rural Development Programmes
operated by SKDP Ltd
• Local & Community Development Programme
• Local Employment Service
• Jobs Club
• Rural Social Scheme
• TUS
• Rural Recreation Officer & Walks Scheme
Area Covered by SKDP
Nature of Area Covered – Cont’d
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2,500 Sq KM
Population – 47,000
Rural Area
Main Industries - Agriculture & Tourism
Area of outstanding natural beauty – Varied Landscape
– Mountains, Coastline, Lakes, National Park, Diverse
Flora & Fauna. World Heritage Site
– Suffers from a number of structural deficits
• Peripherality
• Poor Infrastructure
• Low Population Density
• Out Migration & Immigration
• Dependence on Agriculture – Small Holdings
Core Values of SKDP Ltd
– Using a partnership approach
– Focusing on Equality
– Using a bottom up approach
– Addressing disadvantage
– Working at all levels of the community
– Being Innovative
– Work is transformational
– Influencing policy
– Ensuring Value for Money
Key Strategic Objectives
SKDP’s Corporate Plan 2008 – 2013 sets out the objectives that we
intend to achieve over this period
SKDP’s Strategic Objectives are built around three key pillars
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Enterprise and Employment
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Community Development
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Education and Training
Enterprise and Employment
To promote economic development by protecting and increasing
employment, by fostering the development of new and existing
enterprise and by helping individuals to access employment in the
area.
Key Strategies:
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Protect and sustain the income of farmers and fishermen.
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Support the development and creation of business in rural areas.
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Support the development of tourism.
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Provide employment supports to the unemployed and under-employed,
in particular those most distanced from the labour market.
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Increase the level of self-employment among the long
term unemployed and under-employed
Community Development
To provide local rural and urban development through initiatives
which empower local communities, enhances quality of life and
promotes social inclusion in our area.
Key Strategies:
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Support, maintain and improve community infrastructure,
environment and heritage.
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Support the creation, maintenance and improvement of community
services.
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Support community and target groups to enable them to a position of
empowerment, participation and collective action.
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Support the participation of marginalised and
disadvantaged groups in local and county decision
making bodies.
Education and Training
To support participation in education and training opportunities for life
long learning and development by raising awareness, identifying needs
and providing access throughout the area.
Key Strategies:
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Identify the education and training needs of, and provide programmes
to, individuals and businesses in South Kerry.
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Work with schools and agencies to improve outcomes for young
people at risk
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Increase access to formal and informal educational activities
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Support and strengthen the family unit to encourage child
well-being.
Why NEES Project for SKDP ?
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Fits with SKDP’s enterprise & community strategies
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SKDP supports communities in refurbishing their existing community
facilities and in building new facilities
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Sustainability must be an important consideration – both financial and
environmental
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NEES will provide SKDP with the opportunity to encourage these
groups to consider natural energy efficient products
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Opportunities to learn from other partner areas, transfer knowledge
and experience
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SKDP intends to access Rural Development (LEADER) programme
funding to finance its demonstration project/s.