Tackling legacies of social deprivation
realised by one-off investment programmes. They occur where public policy listens to the needs of the people and responds accordingly. Inclusive communities are realised by recognising their value, safeguarding their assets and building on the strong foundation - the people - the ultimate custodians and architects of strong vibrant, inclusive communities. The role of public intervention is to provide supportive policies that strengthens the fabric of communities, fosters pride of place and facilitates parity of opportunities, towards achieving sustainable and societally enriching goals. Local authorities are core agents in placemaking. Greater recognition and investment in arts and culture in our communities, community policing initiatives, age and stage appropriate communities’ resources are required to deliver on an improved quality of life and well-being. Imaginative solutions are called for at all settlement levels, for example in rural areas a re-purposed role for post offices. We are no longer an isolated and homogenous society located off the coast of continental Europe, but globally connected and enriched with a diverse, young and educated population. The requirements for growth set out by the NPF and RSES are substantially based on new people coming to Ireland to live and work. We live in exciting and fast-moving times and our unique proposition as a nation, as a region, is firmly vested in our people and in our collective vision and values. The RSES supports the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) in their bid to create an Ireland where: • Development is integrated and determined at a local level; • Vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities flourish; • Communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under threat are empowered to overcome these problems; • Society as a whole is active, democratic and pluralist. This remit to sustain local and community development in Ireland is based on a set of core values covering social inclusion, equality and respect for diversity, local and community development. The RSES supports the role of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) and other community partnerships in their roles to ensure regional policy responses are meaningful and flexible to cater for the needs of local communities.
The persistent nature of social deprivation is evident in locations across the Region, where low educational attainment, high levels of unemployment, poor health and housing, addiction and elevated crime rates result in high levels of people living in consistent poverty, often in a poor physical environment. The RSES is committed to improving quality of life for all and places a high priority on tackling these legacies through policies aimed at the targeted investment in infrastructure and support for access to public services. Local authorities and other public bodies should work to deliver multi-agency programmes and regeneration projects to address the housing, health, education and welfare needs along with a focus on job creation measures centred on these communities.
RPO 175
Improving Regional Quality of Life through Infrastructure-led Planning It is an objective to support sustainable infrastructure-led planning for future population and jobs growth in our Region, ensuring the development of social infrastructure in tandem with population and jobs growth, reflecting the RSES settlement strategy and key principles to tackle regional disparities and the legacies of deprivation in the Region. Local authorities should ensure that decision making in relation to new development/infrastructure is informed by an appropriate level of environmental assessment.
RPO 176
10-minute” city and town concepts
It is an objective to attain sustainable compact settlements with the “10-minute” city and town concepts, whereby, a range of community facilities and services are accessible in short walking and cycle timeframes from homes or are accessible by high quality public transport services by connecting people to larger scaled settlements delivering these services. Local authorities should ensure that decision making in relation to new infrastructure for improved connectivity is informed by an appropriate level of environmental assessment.
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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