Chapter 8 - Sustainable communities, Social Infrastructure, Recreation and Active Lifestyles

8          Sustainable Communities, Social Infrastructure,  Recreation and Active Lifestyles

Possible community infrastructure referring to social, health, educational and recreational facilities are crucial to sustaining population growth, attracting inward investment, and ensuring Rathkeale is an attractive location to live and work. This Plan zones 8.08 hectares for education and community facilities, and 43.06 hectares for open space and recreation.

8.1        Context

National policy supports ongoing collaboration with regional stakeholders to ensure that social infrastructure such as education, health and community facilities are provided, and opportunities for social as well as physical regeneration are realised.   The Local Authority is committed to the provision, upgrade and expansion of social infrastructure.  The Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) as administered by the Council has a role in developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent, integrated approach to local and community development in Limerick, through the Local Economic and Community Plan 2016 – 2021 (LECP) and any subsequent update.

Figure 11: Rathkeale Carnegie Library

Higher-level spatial plans promote the 10 Minute Town Concept seeking to have all community facilities and services accessible within a 10 minute walk or cycle from homes or are accessible by public transport services connecting people to larger scaled settlements.  The Council will implement this concept in Rathkeale considering distance of future development proposals to improve social infrastructure from the town centre, the location in relation to other complementary services, potential users, and access to public transport.

8.2        Education and Childcare

The provision of good quality childcare and educational facilities is important to support the development of sustainable communities and facilitate economic development in Rathkeale.

There are 2 childcare facilities located in Rathkeale (Beehive and St. Anne’s Childcare), providing full-day care facilities, sessional services, preschool, crèche, and after school facilities.  With respect to education, there are two primary schools and one secondary school in Rathkeale.  There is also a Youth Space service in the town.  Early school leaver training opportunities are provided in the town by Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) at Rathkeale Riverside Training Workshop.  Given the migratory nature of a substantial population in the town, childcare and educational services are under pressure from October to March annually to cater for increased demand.  The Council consults with schools, the LCETB and the Department of Education and Skills to identify and develop sites for schools as necessary. In this regard, given the projected population growth to 2028, the plan includes the zoning of land for education in accordance with the requirements of the Department.

8.3        Health

There is a HSE clinic with a primary healthcare team operating in Wolfesburgess East.  The role of the Planning Authority with regard to healthcare is to ensure that (a) there is an adequate policy framework in place inclusive of the reservation of lands, should additional services be required and (b) healthcare facilities would be permitted subject to good planning practice. 

8.4        Leisure Facilities

 Rathkeale has a range of community/leisure facilities, including a public library at New Line, sports clubs for gaelic games, soccer and boxing, a community playground at St. Mary’s Park, close to the Palatine Museum and the Limerick Greenway.  The Matrix Way River Walk provides a 0.5km connection between Deel Bridge and the Limerick Greenway – a substantial off-road walkway/cycleway to Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale.  This walkway and part of the Limerick Greenway are part of the 3.1km designated Slí na Sláinte circuit to the west of the town centre. 

   Figure 12: Rathkeale Community Playground

8.5        Age Friendly Limerick

Limerick City and County Council adopted the “Age Friendly Limerick 2015-2020” strategy in 2015. The strategy commits to improving key areas of infrastructure, services, information and an overall social response to older person’s issues. The strategy aims to achieve measurable outcomes for older people that demonstrate improvement in their quality of life.

8.6        Community Infrastructure Strategy and Objectives

Strategic Community Infrastructure, Recreation and Open Space Policy 

To support the provision of a broad range of high quality social/community, educational, healthcare and recreational facilities and infrastructure in accordance with the Draft Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028.

Objectives: It is an objective of the Council to:

CI O1: Ensure that planning applications for social infrastructure and recreational infrastructure demonstrate climate resilience measures to climate-proof critical infrastructure.

CI O2:

(a) Ensure provision of sufficient zoned lands to allow for expansion of existing and provision of new education, sports clubs, cultural facilities, healthcare facilities and community infrastructure in appropriate locations.  The Council promotes multi-purpose spaces, and co-use of recreational facilities.

(b) Ensure that there are sufficient educational places to meet the needs generated by proposed developments, by requiring the completion of a Sustainability Statement and Social Infrastructure Assessment in line the Draft Limerick Development Plan.

(c) Ensure that childcare, primary and secondary education facilities are provided in tandem with new residential areas, at accessible locations which maximise opportunities for walking, cycling and use of public transport.

(d) Facilitate the development of third-level outreach, vocational and lifelong learning facilities and digital capacity for distance learning.

CI O3:

(a) Facilitate the development of walkways in co-operation with local interested parties including the private, voluntary and public sector. Any proposed development adjacent to walkways must incorporate connecting pathways into the designated walkway in their design. Developments shall be designed to overlook proposed walkways.

(b) Continue to develop Limerick Greenway walking and cycling route.

(c) Examine the feasibility of blue-way opportunities/potential along the River Deel in Rathkeale, subject to appropriate ecological assessment.

CI O4:

(a) Protect existing open space by not permitting development which encroaches on open space, and protect semi-natural open space from inappropriate development and facilitate/support the provision of allotments or community gardens at appropriate locations.

(b) Ensure new residential development provides high quality public open space and play-lots proportional to the number of residential units, having cognisance to accessibility, safety, permeability, place-making and the requirements set out in the Draft Limerick Development Plan 2022 – 2028.

(c) Support enhancement of the Rathkeale Community Playground and the park associated with the Augustinian Abbey without compromising the historical and archaeological integrity of National Monuments.

CI O5:

(a) Support and facilitate development and expansion of health service infrastructure by the Health Services Executive, statutory and voluntary agencies and private healthcare providers at appropriate locations.

(b) Support the Healthy Limerick initiatives and the Age Friendly Limerick Strategy 2015 – 2020 and any subsequent replacement initiative/strategy to deliver recreation, environmental improvements, active travel and health infrastructure.