PILLAR | STRENGTHS | WEAKNESSES | OPPORTUNITIES | THREATS |
1. Availability of public and other services | S1.01 Good Local Primary & Secondary Schools. | W1.01 Public transport & mobility. Weak public transport infrastructure. | O1.01 More active promotion of the rural area & availability of suitable off-farm work opportunities and schemes | - |
- | W1.02 Local medical/primary care facilities. Weak public services, online services & teleworking facilities in rural areas. | O1.02 CAP reform - LEADER & European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Farmer Groups. New CAP policies may provide incentives for access to land. | - |
2. Recreation / social activities | S2.01 Safe & secure local environment | W2.01 Internet/telecom connectivity. Limited broadband access, & ICT skill levels. Patchy coverage. | O2.01 Sustainable tourism. | - |
3. Living condition, quality of life and standard of living | S3.01 Local community pride & living conditions. Rural Innovation being supported through LEADER | W3.01 Not enough employment opportunities. New Communities often struggle to find suitable employment. | O3.01 Potential for smaller farms to add ‘public good’ value - Trails, walks, guide tours, local history | T3.01 BREXIT could lead to higher criminality in our border region. |
- | W3.02 Housing opportunities are limited & expensive. | - | T3.02 Concern about CAP post 2020 funding cuts due to BREXIT & focus on climate actions. |
4. Demographic & human capital | S4.01 Many proactive women & young people in the population. | W4.01 Rural demographics. Profile of farmers is aging. Loneliness & Isolation. | - | T4.01 Many young people are choosing not to farm the land. |
5. Business, economy & innovation | S5.01 Lively communities & citizen-driven local activities. Well established rural & farming lobby supports, Teagasc, marts, CoOps, IFA etc & Entrepreneurship | W5.01 Credit & finance is expensive & limited. Small farm sizes. Land prices are a barrier to entry for new entrants | O5.01 Sustainable agriculture & forestry (which is under developed). Social Farming & better cultivation Practices. Further scope to shorten local food supply chains. | T5.01 Lack of farming experience/expertise. No support schemes & information for newcomers. |
- | W5.02 Inadequate support & taxation schemes to attract new business. | - | T5.02 Competition from less regulated countries always a threat |
6. Social and cultural aspects of rural areas | S6.01 Strong community & voluntary sector. Strong farming & rural community ethos, with farmers being custodians of the land, waterways and biodiversity | W6.01 Connections between urban & rural areas. | O6.01 Integration of new populations in the area. Many new community members have farming skills / interests. | T6.01 Financial insecurity of farming |
7. Environment & Biodiversity | S7.01 Open landscapes & beautiful diverse natural areas. Pristine rural area & environment / sustainability | - | O7.01 Climate Change Opportunities. Alternative energy sources. | T7.01 Many cultivation practices are not environmentally sound. |
S7.02 Excellent quality & green farming produce. Farms as ‘public goods’. Strong Irish food certification system. | - | - | T7.02 Not yet attracting adequate eco-firms & sustainable businesses. |