Tralee Chamber Alliance

Lobbying Organisation Tralee Chamber Alliance

Date published 01 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Zoning or development

Public Policy Area Development and Zoning

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details Strategic Growth of Tralee

Intended results Strategic Growth Plan -we are seeking support to prepare, in collaboration with all stakeholders in Tralee, a "Strategic Growth Plan for Tralee." We are seeking support to develop a "smart growth economic development" route, which is a strategy that builds upon our existing assets, takes incremental actions to strengthen communities, supports indigenous job creation, develops placemaking in our town and builds long-term value to attract a range of investments and employment. Taking this step continue from secure 1 - by step approach with a Strategic Growth Plan, with clear goals and objectives that will build incrementally, the plan will be the enabling report that will guide Tralee to achieving a minimum target of 30% population growth in the lifetime of the NPF, but more importantly allow the town to sustainably grow as an economic driver for the county and create opportunities for our community. Western Development Commission - For several years we have quite vocal about the inherent need for Kerry to receive the same level of economic development support as all our fellow counties along the west coast. We remain the only disadvantaged county in the region that is not part of the Western Development Commission's (WDC) remit. The WDC is prohibited from including Kerry in its remit without legislative action from Government. In addition, not only are we seeking the inclusion of Kerry continued from secure 3 - within the remit of the WDC but to recognise that our unjustified exclusion to date has caused detrimental damage to the development of the county, we propose consideration be given to supporting the WDC with a specific additional fund to redress the imbalance specifically in Kerry. European Grouping - Under the European grouping of regions, Kerry is part of the NUTS2. We firmly contest that should Kerry be either re-grouped in with the neighbouring NUTS3 grouping of Limerick and Clare, or at the very least in the interim be assessed separately from Cork. We too would be reclassified as a county in "Transition" enabling more attractive levels of EU Support and investment for Kerry. Town Taskforce - Tralee Chamber are key supporters of the call for Government to give towns like Tralee the opportunity to develop. We have consistently called for a National Towns Taskforce through the Department of the Taoiseach, to be part of the next programme for Government. Collaboration and supporting other towns to develop is a core principle of the Chamber in Tralee. We sit as Chair of the "Town Chambers" group nationally within Chambers Ireland, as well as being the architects of the continue from secure 6 - Kerry Chamber Network to support the Chamber Alliances throughout Kerry. Tralee Chamber in partnership with the Chambers Ireland Network, the Irish Planning Institute, Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, and several other bodies, issued a call to Government during formation talks to make Towns a key focus of the programme of Government, including a national strategy that would see sustainable town centres and creating much needed Employment in regional Continue from Secure 7 - locations priority. Under normal circumstances the body of work to support larger regional towns like Tralee, Killarney and other locations in the county was difficult. We are seeking that Tralee Chamber be nominated to sit on a cross-departmental National Town Taskforce including public and private stakeholders, to revive town centres with a clear focus on enhancing liveability, supporting local businesses, tackling increasing town centre vacancy levels, addressing housing supply and supporting sustainable and ambitious growth and job creation in our towns.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ken Tobin - CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter and Submission attached to email sent to the following people on 26th August 2020. Minister Norma Foley, Brendan Griffin TD, Pa Daly TD, Sean Kelly MEP Terry O Brien, Mayor of Tralee Submission on the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Terry O'Brien Councillor (Kerry County Council)