Opportunity: SMART Sustainable Village Plans

South Tipperary Development Clg (STDC) would like to help 3 areas to develop a SMART sustainable plan for their future.  To do this, we have teamed up with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Cabragh Wetlands and Community Engagement Partners to develop an exciting programme of training and guidance funded by the LEADER programme.

Many readers will be familiar and may even have experience of village planning exercises. A key difference in the SMART Village approach is that it specifically recognises the potential of digital technologies.  The programme will address  climate change and biodiversity loss as well as other social and economic priorities for each area.  Overall the programme will seek  innovative and realistic ways of meeting the needs of each community.

To apply – download the form at the end of this article and return to us by 18th Jan 2023

This is largely a learning by doing programme. Some information will be delivered through online classes, but a lot of the learning will be by you and your group working together, with guidance, to find solutions to the issues in your community and to make use of the resources which your community has available.

At the end of the programme you will have produced a smart community plan for your area with identified actions and pathways for the implementation of the actions including where and how to access funding.

Further information and a short expression of interest form are at the end of this article.  Further queries can be made to Darren.barry@TUS.ie  or SaraBourke@stdc.ie. The closing date for the receipt of expressions of interest is the 18^th of January 2023, and it is expected that the programme will begin later that month.

The programme will be delivered free of charge, as it is grant aided by the LEADER programme.  However, participants may incur some costs for travel / materials etc.

Two other programmes addressing climate change and biodiversity have also been developed and will be run later this year. There will be more information about these and how to apply to them in the coming months.