The Local Government Reform Act, 2014, established the requirement for each local authority to prepare an Annual Service Delivery Plan identifying the services that it proposes to deliver to the public in the year ahead. The purpose of this Plan is to provide a corporate document that highlights the services that will be provided by Tipperary County Council across all directorates in 2024 and has been prepared based on the provisions of the adopted budget by Tipperary County Council on Friday 24 th November 2023. With a geographical area of 4,282 sq. km and a population of 167,8951 , an increase of 8,342 (+5.5%) since 2016, Tipperary is the sixth largest of the 32 counties by area and the eleventh largest by population. Tipperary is located at the heart of Ireland’s ‘Golden Vale’, and at the centre of Ireland’s Southern Region. The county is one of the most central and accessible counties in Ireland, with existing and planned strategic transport links to Limerick, Waterford, Cork and Dublin, and to international airports and major ports. Tipperary has access to a network of national universities and colleges, with nine leading third-level colleges and universities within a 2-hour commute, all producing highly skilled graduates. A strong culture and tradition of collaboration from research, development and internship perspectives, is a key factor in the success of Tipperary-based companies. The natural amenities of the county include breath-taking Lough Derg in the north-west, the majestic River Suir to the south, the iconic Rock of Cashel, mountain ranges and secret valleys, interspersed with a varied network of towns and villages full of individual character. Tipperary has a vibrant and diverse domestic economy based on its strong network of towns, it’s diverse and productive rural areas, its vibrant community and workforce, and its iconic and rich culture and landscape. In particular, Tipperary has three Key Regional Towns; these are drivers of growth and balanced regional development. The county has a wealth of natural assets, and key economic strengths include; renewable energy and the bio-economy, agrifood, the equine economy, tourism and pharmaceuticals. Finally, Tipperary offers an excellent quality of life for us all within a natural environment of diversity and character.

Tipperary County Council is responsible for providing a wide range of services and support to this diverse range of customers, which includes over 159,500 residents in 69,106 households, approx. 14,000 businesses with over 63,400 1 Figures from Census 2022 employees, along with those who visit our county whether for recreation or work. Tipperary County Council’s Corporate Plan 2020-2024 describes the kind of Tipperary we want to see in the future and what we will do as the County Council together with all stakeholders, to deliver the vision for the County: It contains four Strategic Themes for which strategies have been developed which will deliver our vision and ensure the improvement of Council services and infrastructure over the period of the Plan 2020 - 2024. The Four Strategic Themes are: • Our Economy; • Our Community; • Our Environment; and, • Our People For each Strategy, a number of supporting objectives were identified, for which actions and activities are now set out by each Directorate in this Annual Service Delivery Plan for 2024 (ASDP), including the Schedules of Municipal District Works (SMDWs) The current service delivery model sees Nenagh and Clonmel as the two main council centres reflecting the strong economic and social focus of both towns at either end of the county. Council functions are divided across the two centres so that some are managed from one, with others from the second centre. Both centres can deliver frontline services for all council functions. Municipal Districts, through offices in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Nenagh, Thurles and Tipperary, also provide a large range of infrastructural services for their communities and play an active role in the development of the Municipal District's industry, business, social, arts, heritage and cultural affairs. Notwithstanding the above, the range and breadth of services provided by the Local Authority have expanded over the years. Tipperary County Council`s remit as a service provider extends beyond the traditional services to include expansive roles in areas such as active travel, support to refugees and asylum seekers, economic development, job creation and community support. While many of these services are fully funded by Exchequer grants and other financial measures, the multiplicity of services now being provided places greater demands on our support services which is reflected in our budgets. 

The service delivery plan for 2024 must operate within the context of the very real and continuing challenges presented by Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and cost of living inflation and the challenge is to seek to balance the competing demands for additional and more expansive services against the financial capacity to meet such demands in an inflationary economic environment while also meeting targets set under local and national Climate Action Policies. Tipperary County Council plays a lead role at local level in the implementation of Government policy on economic development, housing provision, climate action, wellbeing and supporting those who are most vulnerable in our community. As well as being one of the major employers in the county, Tipperary County Council contributes significantly to the local economy with a combined capital and revenue spend of circa €412m annually. To maintain this level of spend and to avoid adverse impacts on services, it is critically important that Tipperary County Council is given support from Central Government to enable it to be a major player in the recovery process. The national and local recovery process will continue to require investment and commitment across all sectors of our society and economy. 

Tipperary County Council, as a local authority with responsibility for the delivery of a broad range of economic policies and local services, will play its part in this recovery process.
 

Joe MacGrath

Chief Executive
Tipperary County Council