Kilkenny needs more 'age friendly parking' - do you agree?
Call for more initiatives from local TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere has called on Kilkenny County Council to expand the Age Friendly Parking initiative to all towns and larger villages across the county, recognising the importance of supporting older people in our communities.
Deputy Cleere said that older people are “a vital part of our towns, villages, and parishes, who have made and continue to make significant contributions to our communities. We have a duty to ensure that our infrastructure reflects our values, which are respect, inclusion, and dignity,” he said.
Age Friendly Parking is a goodwill-based initiative that provides clearly marked courtesy parking spaces close to town centres, services, and amenities. While not legally enforceable, these spaces are intended for older members of the community who may find walking longer distances challenging. Currently, there are some Age Friendly spaces dotted around the county and I am calling for a county led approach to include every town and village.
Deputy Cleere recently attended the launch of the Kilkenny Age Friendly Strategy for 2025-2030, which will include a review and potential expansion of the parking scheme to additional towns and villages.
“Feedback from older residents and community groups has been overwhelmingly positive,” commented Deputy Cleere. "People appreciate the recognition and the improved accessibility these spaces provide. Every older person in Kilkenny , whether they live in Ballyragget, Callan, Gowran or Mooncoin, or any of our villages, should benefit from this initiative. It costs very little to implement but delivers a huge social return. It promotes a culture of respect and raises awareness of the mobility challenges many older people face.”
He concluded by saying that small but meaningful steps like this help make Kilkenny a more inclusive county, “We often talk about ‘ageing in place’. Initiatives like this make that possible. Let’s ensure Kilkenny continues to lead as an age-friendly county.”