Portarlington Community Centre

Jim Kehoe

PortarlingtonLocated in the midlands. It straddles

both Laois & Offaly, divided by the river Barrow.

One hour from Dublin and Athlone.Population of the Portarlington area

increased by 43 percent from 1996 to 2006, 9,030 to 12,882 (CSO)

Pop of Ballycarroll (ED) 296 to 243 = -18% = rural decline

Portarlington Live Register Figures

Dependency Rates

User GroupsApproximately 1,000 people use the facility every

week, we have 460 members Special Olympics./ Started in 2005/Members 35 (age

7 to 65 years)./Volunteers 50./The Irish & Leinster Special Olympic Team 2011 //Greece /Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Social, Health, fitness

Nua Healthcare, (Asperger Syndrome (13)& Learning difficulties), (13) social interaction improvements

Kare group (Intellectually challenged -15 members)Garda Youth Diversion project (20 members)HSE clinics (diabetics, Mother and baby advice

groups) Active retirements group (55 members)

ResourcesTwo Full Time Equivalent staff

Part fund under CSP scheme (Pobal) One full time Equivalent Dedicated staff

funded under the CE schemeVolunteers resources ( 10 persons)

– Can call on 65 persons if required.New extension built 2009,

Cost 377K Euros. Financed by

– Gants, – Loan (Clann Credo)– Own funds.

Jobs, Jobs !Portarlington’s Economic Development

Plan.called

“Port’s Vision 2020

Ports Vision 2020In May 2010-Laois Partnership Company host a

‘think tank’ workshops on the essential elements of vibrant rural communities.

Two main issues were raised in the report-Lack of communication in the community of

PortarlingtonLack of jobs in PortarlingtonSet up a steering committee ~

OverviewPortarlington Community Development

Association, in collaboration with as many stakeholders as possible, to produce a economic development plan for the town and district.

To seek the involvement of all local stakeholders in the process

To give all groups/businesses an opportunity to have inputs to this Plan/Project

To include Annual KPI’s

The steering Committee Laois and Offaly County Council

representatives Laois & Offaly Laois & Offaly Enterprise Boards? Portarlington Traders Portarlington Portarlington Jobs Club Portarlington Credit Union Laois & Offaly Partnership

CompaniesThe PCDAExternal Consultant

 

Steering Committee

Steering Committee

Agri- Busines

s

Agri- Busines

s

Heath

Sector

Heath

Sector

Tourism

Sector

Tourism

Sector

Construction Construction

Leisure

Activities

Leisure

Activities

Special needs

& Elderly

Special needs

& Elderly

Environment Environment

Retail Busines

s

Retail Busines

s

Youth & Communi

ty

Youth & Communi

ty

Education

Sector

Education

Sector

Project Facilitator Project Facilitator

Un-Employed

Un-Employed

Ports Vision 2020SCOPE OF THE PLAN:

• Sustainability of existing business base.

• New business creation, attraction of new businesses to the area; including Tourism, Agri-business, IT sector, Environmental; etc

• Provision of business support services to include premises, sites, electricity, water, broadband, waste disposal, transport infrastructure, finance:

• The above are Job Enablers.

• Retailing and local services, town enhancement

Ports Vision 2020Core strategies:

1.Consolidating or expanding existing Businesses

2.Creating new businesses

3.Attracting Foreign Direct Investment

Ports Vision 2020Consolidating or expanding existing

businesses:

Survey & identify the current status of local businesses

Detail the challenges they are facing and to explore the supports they would welcome.

Workshops aimed mainly but not exclusively at local traders

Ports Vision 2020Creating new businesses:

Make sure self-employment and the creation of new businesses are seen as options by as many local people as possible

Help people who have identified self-employment as an option to progress their ideas

Target sectors or approaches which might generate new business start-ups: food, tourism, farm diversification etc

Ports Vision 2020

Attracting foreign direct investment:Portarlington can make sure it puts out

the best china when a visitor, -perhaps unexpected - calls

Town has to be attractive, clean, litter free and welcoming. (tidy towns)

Portarlington needs to have its message ready (web site)

Make contacts with our exiles

Ports Vision 2020Work Programme:

1. Consultation with major stakeholders

2. Consultation with wider community groups/business e.g. idea generation sessions/campaign

3. Completion of base line study of town; SWOT ANALYSIS

4. Survey of existing businesses.

5. Write up the plan (by mid June 2011)

6. Yearly Reviews

Support creation of new businesses

Support expansion of existing businesses

Creating a climate for enterprise

Tourism & Sports development

Developing Education ,enterprising communities and people

Development of Agri-culture sector and the local environment

Plan for 2020

Plan for 2020

Plan for 2020

Plan for 2020

Plan for 2020

Plan for 2020

Po

rts Visio

n 2020

Steerin

g C

om

mittee

Po

rts Visio

n 2020

Fin

al Rep

ort fo

r 2011Workshops by six

Po

rts V

isio

n 2

020

Co

ns

ulta

tion

Pro

ces

s a

nd

Inte

rim R

epo

rt

May, June July August September October, November and December 2011

Portarlington Community Centre

Futuristic View of Port’s Community Centre

Thank You