L-R – Cllr Andrew McGuiness, Katherine Peacock, Declan Gibbons, Aileen McGrath, Cllr John Brennan, Cllr Ger Frisby, Anne-Marie Shorthall, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, Sean McKeown & Cllr Michael McCarthy

Monday June 12^th, saw the launch of a new Framework document, the Local Economic and Community Plan 2023 to 2028 for Kilkenny in a joint initiative by Kilkenny County Council and the LCDC.

Launched at Butler Gallery, the new Framework document sets out a vision for Kilkenny which is ‘by 2028 Kilkenny will be a future-ready, citizen-centric and welcoming county that is climate resilient, provides jobs, attracts highly productive businesses, delivers inclusive services and celebrates creativity’.

The ten high Level Goals which form the framework reflect the depth of its remit. The goals which are structured around the pillars of economic and community are cross cutting, responding to important synergies as well as the overarching commitment towards climate action.

Launching the plan, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick said:

‘The process of the development of the 2023 to 2028 LECP has allowed us to refresh and refocus our vision and provides us with a robust framework to keep supporting the sustainable growth of our local economy and communities. The LECP embraces an inclusive approach towards growth and the benefits this can bring. It also acknowledges the urgency to act now to implement positive climate and biodiversity actions, so that the benefits of success will be felt by all of our communities, now and long into the future’.

Welcoming the launch of the plan, Declan Gibbons, Chair of the LCDC acknowledged the extent of engagement in developing the Framework and offered thanks to the LCDC members, members of SPC1 of Kilkenny County Council and the extensive range of stakeholders who participated in the consultation process and agreed to lead actions for delivery in the Implementation plan.  Mr Gibbons said ‘The development of this framework document and implementation plan is a testament to the strength of the partnership approach in Kilkenny’.

The purpose of the LECP, as provided for in the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is to set out, for a six-year period, the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of Kilkenny County Council, both by itself directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders.

The LECP Framework can be found at https://kilkennycoco.ie/eng/your_council/lcdc/lecp-plan/

L-R Sean McKeown; Aileen McGrath, Cllr John Brennan, Katherine Peacock, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick; Cllr Joe Malone; Cllr Andrew McGuiness; Mary Mullholland; Cllr Ger Frisby; Marion Acreman; Cllr Michael McCarthy & Anne Marie Shorthall

For further Information contact Aileen McGrath: aileen.mcgrath@leo.kilkennycoco.ie