County Clare Recreation and Sports Strategy 2009 - 2011

Public Consultation

1. Background to the Strategy
2. Who will the Strategy affect?
3. Definition of Recreation & Sport
4. Public Consultation Process
5. Public Consultation Sessions
6. How to make a submission
7. Prompter questions / issues to consider
8. What Recreation / Sports may include

1. Background to the Strategy

Why develop a Recreation and Sports Strategy for County Clare?

Clare Co Council adopted a Play Policy and Action Plan for Clare in 2004 for the period 2004 - 2008. To-date a significant proportion of the actions included in the play policy have been completed.

The Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) launched a national recreation policy for young people, called "Teen space" in September 2007.

Action 68 of this policy states that "Government Departments and agencies at local level (including local authorities) will consider the opportunities available to them under existing funding lines to provide recreation programmes and facilities for young people".

The County Development Board and Clare Local Authorities have a key role in the implementation of the policy.

The County development Board has been given the following specific responsibility:

Objective 6

"Develop a partnership approach in developing and finding recreational opportunities across statutory community and voluntary sectors.

Each City & County Development Board should lead on the preparation of an interagency recreation strategy for young people in their area."

It is proposed that a Recreation Strategy for the County will go beyond that which the Play Policy set out to achieve and the objectives of the National Recreation Policy for young people, by including all aspects of recreation for all of the lifecycle stages of the people of Clare and visitors to the county. The strategy will reflect national policy and strategies.

What period will the strategy cover?

The Recreation Strategy will be for the 3-year period of 2009 - 2011.

Back to Top

2. Who will the Strategy affect?

What will the Strategy cover / include?

In line with best practice in developing other strategies it is proposed that

• Actions under the strategy to be identified and agreed by lead agencies - actions to reflect the key issues identified and reflect the findings of the consultation process
• A comprehensive and inclusive countywide consultation process will take place.
• Operational Plans to be developed for each action with achievable and specific targets agreed and linked to the relevant lead agency.
• Process of monitoring and review of progress to take place on a 6-month basis for the lifetime of the strategy.

What age groups will the strategy apply to?

Recreation and Sport is important to everyone throughout their lives and that the broadest possible view should be taken when considering recreation and sport.

It is also proposed to use the Lifecycle approach as adopted in Towards 2016, National Children's' Strategy, and the Anti Poverty Strategy as a way to provide a more streamlined approach to developing, monitoring and reviewing the strategy.

The Lifecycle Approach includes the following cohorts/ age groups / life stages

1. Children
2. Young Adults
3. Elderly
4. People with Disabilities - all ages
5. People experiencing Social Exclusion

Back to Top

3. Definition of Recreation & Sport

For the purposes of the County Clare Recreation and Sports Strategy, Recreation is defined as "comprising all positive activities in which a person may choose to take part that ill make his or her leisure time more interesting, more enjoyable and personally satisfying" (ref Teenspace p.3)

For the purposes of the County Clare Recreation and Sports Strategy,

Sports is defined as:

Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or

organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels

(Council of Europe's European Sports Charter of 1993)

Recreation and Sport is important to everyone throughout their lives and that the broadest possible view should be taken when considering recreation and sport.

Therefore other terms that can be used when considering "Recreation" and "Sport" should be considered. These include:

• The use of time in a non-profitable way
• Active participation in a refreshing and diverting manner
• Activity that diverts, amuses or stimulates
• Activities that are relaxing and provide diversions from the normal routine.
• Activities undertaken for pleasure in their spare time, usually in their local area.

Associated words related to recreation / sport include

Free time, holiday, opportunity, quiet, relaxation, spare moments, breathing space, ease, time off, freedom, unhurriedly, at one's leisure / convenience, slowly, comfortably, pass time, play, entertainment, distraction, exercise, fun, hobby, sport,

Sport / Recreation can be divided into a number of types:

1. Formal / Active Recreation and Sporting activities;

Sports and games that normally require purpose designed facilities such as pitches, tracks etc

Usually leisure time physical activities require special equipment or "fixed" facilities, advance organisation - possibly includes most sports.

1. Informal / Passive Recreation

Recreational activities that do not involve organized sports

• Includes pursuits such as walking, sitting, cycling, horse riding, bird watching, nature study and picnicking requiring a pathway, countryside or open space land use.
• Impromptu games not requiring marked-out pitches or other facilities, etc

See list of what Recreation & Sport may include:

Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Back to Top

4. Public Consultation Process

Why should I get involved in the consultation process?

It is imperative that the strategy reflects the needs of all of the people of County Clare.

It is important that we know what your views, comments and concerns are in relation to:

• Participation in recreation & sport
• Access to facilities and amenities
• Promotion of a balances and healthy lifestyle
• Concerns in relation to participation/ access / opportunities

As part of the public consultation process you are invited to make your submission / comments / observations with regard to the proposed strategy.

Who is / can be involved in the Consultation Process?

• Anyone you lives in, visits, or has an interest in recreation and sport in the County
• Throught the Clare County Development Board all of the agencies involved in the delivery of services to you in the County have been invited to make submissions. On behalf of their organisation
• All of the elected representatives and members of the Oireachtas in County Clare have been intived to make a submission
• Community & Voluntary Groups and other key focus groups with the County.

Who will be holding the Public Consultation sessions

Community & Enterprise Section of Clare Co Council in conjunction with Clare Sports Partnership.

What happens after the Consultation process is concluded?

The issues raised through the consultation process are then compiled and form the basis for the objectives and actions of the strategy. This means that the Steering Committee will be able to consider all submissions when finalising the strategy. In this way, the strategy will reflect the needs, views, issues, comments raised by you, a citizen of County Clare.

It is anticipated that a draft strategy will be available in September / October.

The final document will be launched in November 2008.

Copies of the strategy document will be available to members of the public on request and electronically from the CDB website

In line with best practice in developing other strategies it is proposed that

• Actions under the strategy to be identified and agreed by the lead agencies - actions to reflect the key issues identified and reflect the findings of the consultation process
• Objectives and Actions included in the Strategy will be directly related to the issues / concerns / comments raised through the public consultation process. A comprehensive and inclusive countywide consultation process is scheduled to take place.
• Operational Plans to be developed for each action with achievable and specific targets agreed and linked to the relevant lead agency.
• Process of monitoring and review of progress to take place on a 6-month basis for the lifetime of the strategy.

5. Public Consultation Sessions

Back to Top

6. How to make a submission

How can I make my views, concerns, and observations known?

You have a number of options. These are:

• A. You can attend any of the public consultation sessions that will be held throughout the county
• B. You can put your comments in writing and either post them to
• & Enterprise Section of Clare Co. Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis

or

• E-mail your comments to dceoff@clarecoco.ie.

or

• Contact the Community & Enterprise Section of Clare Co Council at 065 6846222 and give your comments over the phone.

or

• Contact Clare Sports Partnership at 065 6865434.

Back to Top

7. Prompter questions / issues to consider

The Strategy will be based on the Lifecycle Approach which includes the following cohorts/ age groups / life stages

1. Children
2. Young Adults
3. Elderly
4. People with Disabilities - all ages
5. People experiencing Social Exclusion

Using this approach it will provide a more streamlined approach to developing, monitoring and reviewing the strategy.

When considering what to include in your submission it may be worth considering the following questions for the lifecycle stage or stages that you are most interested in making a submission on. You can of course make a submission on all of the life stages as per above.

The prompter questions are divided into questions for you the individual and for organisations either representing an age group / cohort or providing a service to a particular age group / cohort.

Prompter questions: For you as an individual

• What does recreation and sport mean for you?
• Who are the people most affected by this issue?
• What do you like to do in your spare time?
• What would you like to do in your spare time?
• What are your top 3 preferences in terms of recreation / sporting activities?
• What is preventing you from doing this?
• Do you know what are the facilities currently available in my local area / within the County?
• How do you find out about them/
• Where would you expect to find this information?
• What facilities / amenities would you like to have in your local area?
• Who do you think should provide these facilities / amenities?
• What do you consider to be the appropriate steps that need to be taken to improve the current situation?
• What would you like to be done to promote balanced and healthy lifestyles?
• How can you promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle within your own local area?
• What do you think are the benefits - social, emotional, physical of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Prompter questions: For you as an agency/ organisation providing a service or representing a life stage / age group/ cohort

• Who are the people most affected by this issue?
• How does this issue affect people?
• What do you think are the difficulties, issues preventing people engaging / participating in recreational / sporting activities?
• Who are the winners in the present situation?
• Who are the losers in the present situation?
• What are the options currently available to people / specific age group who wish to participate.
• Do you know what are the facilities currently available in a particular local area / within the County?
• How would you find out about them?
• Where would you expect to find this information?
• What facilities / amenities would you like to have available to / for the age group / cohort you represent or provide a service to?
• Who do you think should provide these facilities / amenities?
• What do you consider to be the appropriate steps that need to be taken to improve the current situation?
• What steps can your organisation do to improve the current situation?
• What would your organisation like to be done to promote balanced and healthy lifestyles?
• How can your organisation do to promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle within your own local area?

Back to Top

8. Recreation & Sport can include

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and may include other areas of activity

• Antiques
  • Collecting,
  • restoring,
  • selling,
  • Auctions
• Astronomy
  • Space exploration
  • clubs watching
• Auto
  • Racing
  • Collectables
  • Restoration
  • Parts & accessories
• Aviation
  • Flying-clubs
  • Model aircraft
• Biking
  • Cycling
  • Road and mountain biking
• Boating
  • Canoeing
  • Motor boating
  • Kayaking
  • Paddle sports
  • Sailing
  • restoring
• Books
  • Reading
  • Book clubs
  • Collecting - (antiquarian) writing
• Bowling
  • Bowling
  • Boules etc
• Camping
  • Holiday breaks
  • Clubs
  • Camper van clubs
• Climbing
  • Rock climbing
  • mountaineering
• Collecting
  • Stamps
  • Coins
  • Books
  • cars
• Crafts
  • Knitting
  • Quilting
  • Jewellery
• Drama
  • Acting
  • Writing
  • Directing
  • producing
• Food
  • Cooking
  • Fine dining
  • Teaching
• Fishing
  • Fishing overall - freshwater/cold/warm water
• Games - Other
  • Rounders, etc
• Games - Board
  • Board games - chess
  • Draughts
  • Cards
  • Darts
• Gardening
  • Garden Design
  • Flower arranging
  • Competition allotments
• Horseback riding
  • General - on trails
  • competition
• Recreation heading
  • Sub group
• Heritage
  • Tours
  • Conservation
  • Walks
  • buildings
• Hiking
  • Running
  • Jogging
  • Walking for pleasure
• Hunting
  • Gun clubs
  • Overall hunting
  • Big game small game
  • Migrating birds
• Martial Arts
  • Take wan do
  • Karate
  • Judo
  • Kick boxing - learning/competition/teaching
• Models
  • Trains
  • Cars
  • Planes
• Motorcycles
  • Collecting
  • Restoring
  • Racing
• Music
  • Listening
  • Playing
  • Concerts
  • Gigs
• Outdoors
  • Walking
  • Cycling
• Public Speaking
  • Debating
  • Toast masters
• Painting
  • Collecting
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Sketching
• Photography
  • Camera Clubs
  • Competitions
  • Personal use
  • Holidays
• Trains & Railroads
  • Train spotting
  • Collecting
• Travel
  • Groups/individuals
• Sports
  • Formal/Organised - GAA
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Basketball
• Water Sports
  • Water skiing
  • Surfing
  • Scuba diving
  • Visiting a beach
  • Swimming in lakes
  • Rivers
  • Beaches
  • Outdoor pools
  • Jet skiing
• Wildlife viewing
  • Bird watching
  • Nature study-sightseening viewing and photographing
• Winter sports
  • Snow/ice based activities-sledding
  • Skiing
  • Ice skating
  • Snow boarding
  • Ice fishing

Back to Top