A survey is currently being conducted amongst the people of South Kerry to get their views on the vibrancy of their communities. The work is being undertaken by geography department of Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick through the INTERREG IVB NWE Rural Alliances Project which is being run by South Kerry Development Partnership. Mary Immaculate College, UL is the academic partner on the Rural Alliances project with SKDP. Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe of the Mary Immaculate Geography Department said that the survey aims to get the views of the people of South Kerry on how vibrant they feel their communities are. “It is part of a broader study on what is termed Rural Vibrancy that includes examining what public and commercial services are currently available to people who live and work in South Kerry and how vital local services can be sustained and developed” Dr. O’Keeffe explained. Questions on the survey include those focusing on employment, the local community, community development and the environment and survey forms will be distributed in a variety of ways to people in South Kerry over the coming weeks including face to face meetings with people on the streets of the region by Ms. Sandra Duggan, a research intern with the Geography Department at present. It will also be sent out by e-mail to people and will be physically distributed at events around South Kerry over the coming weeks. “SKDP is delighted that Mary Immaculate College is undertaking this work through the Rural Alliances project in South Kerry and the information gathered through the survey will be combined with the results of similar surveys being conducted in the 11 other partner areas in Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK” according to Project Manager Seán de Buitléar. “This information is vital in helping to identify specific areas and elements that need improvement in the rural regions of Europe and will provide a very strong platform from which to lobby to have these become the focus of future European development projects” Seán added. “All of the information being gathered through the survey is both anonymous and confidential and the data will be collated independently by Mary Immaculate College” Dr. O’Keeffe pointed out. “Anybody who wishes to receive further information or to get an electronic copy of the survey to complete can contact Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe by phone on 061 204344 or by e-mail [email protected] . “I would like to thank in advance all of the people who take the time to complete and return this survey over the coming weeks” Dr. O’Keeffe added.
South Kerry Survey on Rural Vibrancy
