This document discusses a study on local development, service provision, and rural vibrancy in South Kerry, Ireland. It provides context on literature and issues, describes the study area and methodology, and presents survey findings. The survey assessed levels of public and community services, and citizens' perceptions of economic and social vibrancy in their areas. It found variability in services between communities and differences in perceptions of vibrancy between the four community forum areas of South Kerry.

1. Local development, service provision and rural vibrancy –
Endogenous responses and perspectives
Presentation to RSA Annual Conference
Planning for Regional Development:
The National Planning Framework as a Roadmap for Ireland’s Future
Brendan O’Keeffe
September 2016

2. Contents
1. Context
a. Literature
b. The National Spatial Strategy Baseline
2. The Study Area
3. Methodology
4. Survey Findings
5. Analysis and Recommendations

3. The service sector accounts for about 70% of the economy.
“The availability of an appropriate mix of private, public and voluntary services in
all communities is an increasingly important factor in building a competitive and
sustainable economy” (OECD, 2010, p. 57).
Convergence in the expectations of rural and urban citizens / communities.
The supply formats of services may, however, still be different in rural due to
smaller and more dispersed populations, longer distances and limited availability
of delivery infrastructure. The “unit cost of delivery” is, under these circumstances
normally higher (Hindle and Annibal 2011, p. 7).
Commercial services increasingly locating to the edges of urban centres – targeting
of rural populations.
Greater potential to utilise ICT in service provision – broadband infrastructure.
Ageing population in peripheral areas implies bespoke service provision.
1a. Context: Review of Literature and Issues

4. 1b. The National Spatial Strategy Baseline

5. 2. The Study Area

6. 3. Methodology
• Data collected as part of an
INTERREG Project (NW Europe)
• Survey Work in South Kerry
1. Mapping of Public Service Provision
2. Survey of c.1000 citizens on community vibrancy:
Indictors of Economic, Socio-Cultural and
Environmental Vibrancy.

7. 4. Survey Findings
A. Levels of Service Provision
B. Perceptions of Rural Vibrancy

8. Services and Amenities identified in the National
Spatial Strategy
Killarney
Kenmare
Killorglin
Cahersiveen
Milltown
Waterville
Annascaul
Glenbeigh
Sneem
Beaufort
Castlemaine
Kilgarvan
Cromane
BailenaSceilge
Chapeltown
Knightstown
Faha&Listry
Kilgobnet
Portmagee
Glencar
Lauragh
Tousist
Kells
Barraduff&Headford
Glenflesk
Muckross
Fossa
Derrynane
Castlecove
Spa
Dromid
Clonkeen
Inch
Templenoe
AreaTotal
%ofCommunitiesscoring
ontheVibrancyIndicator
A. Town Amenities
Regional Transport Linkages 1 1 1 1 4 100
Second Level School 1 1 1 1 4 100
Adult Education Opportunities 1 1 1 1 4 100
Health Centre 1 1 1 1 4 100
Day Hospital/Clinic 1 1 0 1 3 75
Pharmacy 1 1 1 1 4 100
Community-Based Healthcare Options 1 1 1 1 4 100
Garda Station 1 1 1 1 4 100
Court Services 1 1 1 1 4 100
Enterprise Centre 1 1 1 1 4 100
Training Opportunities 1 1 1 1 4 100
Electoral Area Plans 1 1 1 1 4 100
Sports, Amenity and Play Areas 1 1 1 1 4 100
Cultural Facilities 1 1 1 1 4 100
Seasonal Tourist Office 1 1 1 1 4 100
Range of Retail Shops 1 1 1 1 4 100
Entertainment Services 1 1 1 1 4 100
Town Council / Electoral Area Meetings 1 0 0 0 1 25
County Council Office 1 1 1 1 4 100
Library 1 1 1 1 4 100
Social Welfare Office 1 1 1 1 4 100
Local Development Company 1 1 1 1 4 100
Waste Management Programme 1 1 1 1 4 100
B. Village Level Amenities
Local Politician 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 12 44.4
Post Office 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 21 77.8
Indoor Sports' Area 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 63.0
Access to Education Programmes 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 11 40.7
Local Childcare 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 19 70.4
Local Eldercare 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 20 74.1
Community Alert 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 22 81.5
Garda Presence 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 12 44.4
Enterprise Workshop 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 11.1
Multi-Purpose Hall 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 20 74.1
Sports Field 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 22 81.5
Playground 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 13 48.1
Facility for Teenagers / Young People 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 59.3
Tourism, Culture, Heritage Groups 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 20 74.1
C.Village Nuclei Level Amenities
Shop 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 28 82.4
Pub 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 30 88.2
Local Community Groups 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 33 97.1
Outreach Access to Community Development Officer 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 34 100.0
Community Transport 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 32 94.1
Quality Road Infrastructure 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 19 55.9
Local Civic Programmes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 34 100.0
Local Area Plans 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 34 100.0
Amenity Area 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 16 47.1
Total Score 2015 46 44 43 44 18 21 15 18 22 15 19 16 12 17 15 14 13 7 15 14 13 9 10 15 14 17 21 7 8 4 8 5 9 8 576
Target Score 2020 46 46 46 46 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 776
% Score for 20135 100 95.7 93.5 95.7 78.3 91.3 65.2 78.3 95.7 65.2 82.6 69.6 52.2 73.9 65.2 60.9 56.5 30.4 65.2 60.9 56.5 39.1 43.5 65.2 60.9 73.9 91.3 77.8 88.9 44.4 88.9 55.6 100 88.9 74.2
A. Mapping Service Provision

9. 0 20 40 60 80 100
Enterprise Workshop
Access to Education Programmes
Local Politician
Garda Presence
Playground
Facility for Teenagers / Young People
Indoor Sports' Area
Local Childcare
Multi-Purpose Hall
Tourism, Culture, Heritage Groups
Local Eldercare
Post Office
Community Alert
Sports Field
% of small towns and villages
Percentage of Small Towns and Villages in
South Kerry that have the Services specified in the NSS
Blue= Community
Green = Statutory

10. 0 20 40 60 80 100
Amenity Area
Quality Road Infrastructure
Shop
Pub
Community Transport
Local Community Groups
Outreach Access to Community…
Local Civic Programmes
Local Area Plans
% of Communities
Percentage of Small Towns and Villages in South
Kerry that have the Services specified in the NSS
Blue= Community
Green = Statutory

11. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Killarney
Kenmare
Cahirsiveen
Killorglin
Sneem
Waterville
Fossa
Castlemaine
Milltown
Glenbeigh
BailenaSceilige
Muckross
Kilgarvan
Annascaul
Beaufort
Chapeltown
Portmagee
Barraduff&Headford
Knightstown
Glencar
Glenflesk
Lauragh
Faha&Listry
Cromane
Kells
Tousist
Kilgobnet
Inch
Castlecove
Dromid
Templenoe
Derrynane
Clonkeen
Spa
S.KerryAverage
%oftheNSSspecifiedservices/amenities
Distribution of the Services specified in the NSS for each Settlement Tier as
indicated by the Percentage of Amenities each Settlement has.

12. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Distribution of the Services specified in the NSS for each Settlement Tier as indicated by the
Percentage of Amenities each Settlement has, by Community Forum Area
Iveragh Kenmare Killarney Mid-Kerry

13. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Public Transport Services are sufficient to meet local needs.
Local Government provides good value for money.
Local Government services here are good.
Local middle-income earners can afford to buy a house.
We have good public services in this community.
This locality attracts investment.
Most people in this community have decent jobs.
The local policing service is satisfactory
The local economy is as strong here as in other rural areas.
Innovation is valued and recognized in the community.
This community produces entrepreneurs and self-starters.
People with business ideas can get support and advice…
People in this community have a good standard of living.
Local people are good to support local businesses.
Local businesses appreciate local custom.
Strongly Agree Agree Unsure / No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
B. Levels of Agreement or Disagreement with Statements
about Economic Vibrancy among Citizens in South Kerry

14. Citizens’ Perceptions of Economic Vibrancy – on
selected indicators, by Community Forum Area
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Kenmare
Iveragh
Mid-Kerry
Killarney
We have good public services in this community.
Strongly Agree Agree Unsure/No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
P<.001, Cramer’s V=.155
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Iveragh
Kenmare
Mid-Kerry
Killarney
Most people in this community have decent jobs.
Strongly Agree Agree Unsure/No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
P<.001, Cramer’s V=.132

15. 2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
Fossa
Muckross
Killarney&Environs
Killorglin
Blackwater/Templenoe
Listry
Lauragh/Tousist
Glenflesk&Headford
Kenmare
Valentia
S.KerryMean
Annascaul
Bonane
Caherdaniel
Barraduff
Dromid
Kilgarvan
Glenbeigh/Glencar
Milltown
Portmagee
Inch&Keel
Kells/Foilmore
Cromane
Beaufort&BlackValley
Sneem
Cahersiveen
BailenaSceilge
Castlemaine
Waterville
VibrancyScore
Economic Vibrancy - Cumulative Score for each community

16. 2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
Kenmare Killarney Iveragh Mid-Kerry
MeanVibrancyScores
Economic Vibrancy Socio-Cultural Vibrancy Environmental Vibrancy
Cumulative Scores for Communities across the Four
Community Forum Areas on the Dimensions of
Sustainable Development

17. Community Groups i.e. Civil Society provides vital local
services and promotes development

18. 5. Analysis and Recommendations
• Usefulness of Targets and Indicators in the NSS (NPF)
• Tailor Targets for particular geographies
• Highest levels of economic vibrancy do not necessarily
correlate with service provision – complex relationship
• Highest levels of socio-cultural vibrancy correlate with
rurality and volunteerism
• Recognise and Support Community-led Service
Provision
• Other factors: Enforcement, Quality, Affordability,
Accessibility – Distance rather than spatial hierarchy.

19. References
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2002) Ireland’s
National Spatial Strategy.
Hindle, R. and Annibal, I., 2011. Developing collaborative and innovative
approaches to the delivery of rural services. Rural Innovation.
http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=RE0239.pdf
Meredith, D. and Van Egeraat, C. (2013) ‘Revisiting the National Spatial
Strategy ten years on.’ Administration, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 3–9
OECD, 2010. Strategies to Improve Rural Service Delivery. OECD, Paris.