CRM welcomes the plan's focus on harnessing our natural assets in a manner
that responds to the climate and biodiversity crises.
CRM welcomes Kildare Co Co's initiative in developing a Just Transition Plan for West Kildare, and notes the Council's role within the EMRA which will manage the delivery of the next round of EU Just Transition Funds. This should be referenced in the County Development Plan.
As West Kildare is part of a region with a particular socio-economic history there is considerable scope for cross-county projects. This is an area where Kildare Co Co could help broker/facilitate partnerships by committing to cross county projects, and encuraging agencies to avoid treating Just Transition as a winner-takes-all competition for resources. In this context CRM welcomes Kildare Leader's initiatve in promoting the SMART VIllage concept and looks forward to its support of West Kildare's SMART Rural Alliance and the brokering of connections with its counterparts in Laois and Offaly.
CRM welcomes the inclusion of Peatways in the Draft CDB Plan and notes their potential to link the Royal, Grand and Barrow Blueways to former BnM/ESB communities in West Kildare and beyond. The Peatways also have the potential to enhance access to the proposed Peatlands Park, and CRM welcomes kildare Co Co's support for this proposal. This access must take account of the need to protect sensitive sites, flora and fauna - particularly in areas such as the Clonruisk raised bog remnant near Ballydermot BnM Works.
CRM views the National Peatlands Park, Blueway,Peatways and Greenways as central to delivering a Just Transition in West Kildare; and to building the areas reputation as an eco-tourism destination. However, the while the Draft County Development Plan aims to respond to our climate and biodiversity crises, CRM notes that that County's Biodiversity Plan is out of date as is the County's Landscape Character Map (and its impact assessment criteria) - both need to be updated as a matter of urgency.
Finally CRM notes that social dialogue and equipping people/communities with the skills to participate in, and benefit from, the future net zero economy are two of the key principles in policy framework set out in the Climate Action Plan. They are also central to Just Transition and should be embedded in the County Development Plan and in the CDB's approach to Just Transition.
That KIldare CDB update its Biodiversity and County Landscape Character Map (including its impact assessment criteria) as a matter of urgency.
Kildare CDB's Draft Plan is a forward looking document and has many innovative features. However, a failure to update the County's Biodiversity Plan and the County's Landscape Character Map (and its impact assessment criteria) would fatally undermine the potential of its Core-Stepping-Stones- Corridor Green Infrastructure strategy.