Regional strategy (RSES) · Northern and Western Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032
The regional strategy for the Northern and Western Region, including the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
Northern and Western Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 320 pages
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- 1.4 Enterprise 2025 Renewed Enterprise Policy in Ireland is developed/formulated by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Current enterprise policy is provided by ‘Enterprise 2025 Renewed’. The policy is based on export-led growth, underpinned by talent and innovation, with the objective of driving resilience in the enterprise base so that full employment is sustainable over the longer term. The RSES will lead the way the region organises for success in economic development and to shape a sustainably resilient place. It will integrate national policy and sectoral strategy with a unique ‘place based’ model of development uniquely showcased across this region. In terms of focus, the enterprise policy is clear in its approach and there are clear objectives that we can leverage across our region: 1. Increasing the emphasis on developing our Irish owned enterprises – embedding resilience in our enterprise base, enhancing productivity and delivering quality jobs – including supporting companies to navigate their way through Brexit. 2. Harness the distinctive characteristics of our foreign and Irish owned enterprise mix through collaboration and clustering. 3. Place a spotlight on innovation and talent and leverage our strengths in disruptive technologies so that we achieve our ambition with more enterprises developing new products, services and solutions to compete effectively against international competition. 4. Realise the full potential of our regions through investments in place-making - developing places that are attractive for business investment and for people to live and work. 5. Develop our international relationships and strengthen economic diplomacy to raise Ireland’s visibility, protect Ireland’s reputation and provide opportunities for our enterprises supported by the Global Footprint 2025 initiative. The National Planning Framework (NPF) recognises there is a strong interdependence between good spatial planning and economic growth. Realising the outcomes require a complementary approach in terms of both place-making and enterprise initiatives that tap into distinctive regional strengths. In addition, the NPF promotes place-making as a strategic outcome for a strong economy, through the creation of places (communities, catchments, functional areas, clusters etc.) that can foster enterprise and innovation, whilst winning investment and retaining talent. VIEW PDF AT: ! https://www.nwra.ie/wp-content/ uploads/2020/05/enterprise-2025- renewed.pdfNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 11 1 Context
- 1.5 Environmental Assessment A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), an Appropriate Assessment (AA) and a Regional Strategic Flood Risk Appraisal (RFRA) have been undertaken so that the high-level impact of the proposed Policy Objectives on the environment can be evaluated and used to inform the direction of the RSES. This ensures that the strategy responds to the sensitivities and requirements of the wider natural environment, ensuring the likely environmental consequences of decisions regarding the future accommodation of growth and development are considered and how negative effects can be reduced, offset or avoided. The SEA of the RSES has been undertaken concurrently with the preparation of the AA Natura Impact Statement (NIS). There is a degree of overlap between the requirements of the SEA and AA and in accordance with best practice, there was an integrated process of data sharing, including sharing of baseline data and mapping of European Sites, sharing of potential ecological effects of the RSES on European Sites and clarification on more technical aspects of the RSES. These processes have together informed and shaped the development of the strategy. The findings of the RFRA have also directly fed into the SEA Environmental Report. INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS The RSES is a strategic framework document which will result in the tiered development of the region. The methodology outlined above shows the interaction between making the Strategy and environmental assessment. All investment and feasibility studies arising from this strategy should include appropriate environmental assessment as part of any consequential decision making. As detail is developed down through the planning hierarchy, further opportunity for focused assessment will be required to inform decision making at a level of greater granularity. It is therefore important that where other strategies and plans undergo review or changes to reflect the national and regional policy objectives and outcomes of both the National Planning Framework and subsequently the RSES, they should also consider any relevant environmental requirements. This strategy sets out below overarching environmental objectives which form an integral part of this process.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 12 1 Context
- 1. The Assembly supports the process whereby applications for development consents for projects emanating from any policies that may give rise to likely significant effects on the environment will need to be accompanied by one or more of the following, as relevant: i. An Ecological Impact Assessment Report (EcIA); ii. Environmental Report (ER); iii. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) if deemed necessary under the relevant legislation (statutory document); iv. Natura Impact Statement (NIS) if deemed necessary under the relevant legislation (statutory document). 2. The Assembly supports the implementation of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 and support measures to control and manage the spread of invasive and alien species within the region. 3. The Assembly will coordinate the core objectives of the EU Flood Directive and statutory plans across the planning hierarchy, including national guidance on the relationship between the planning system and flood risk management. 4. The Assembly supports the use of Environmental Sensitivity Mapping (e.g. EPA ESM Webtool) to investigate optimum and integrated land use management with particular emphasis on cumulative impacts. 5. The Assembly supports the integration of biodiversity considerations in a positive, proactive and precautionary way and promotes the protections of the environment and biodiversity conservation as key principles of this strategy. OVERARCHING ENVIRONMENTAL REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVESNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 13 1 Context
- 1.6 Regional Profile What is immediately striking about the region is that it comprises many of the areas that would traditionally be considered ‘rural’ within Ireland. That is to say, the entire province of Connacht and Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan from the province of Ulster are contained within the region. Although not all of the region is rural, it is predominantly rural, with some notable exceptions. While this rural nature is common to each of the eight counties within the region, there is also a multitude of differences. For example, the counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan all share the only international border Ireland possesses, something that has its specific challenges. We then have the coastal counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal which lie adjacent to the vast Atlantic Ocean, and all that connection brings with it. While Roscommon, Cavan and Monaghan are landlocked counties that are nestled within the heartlands of the country. The population within the NWRA area amounts to approximately 18% of Ireland’s total. This can be considered a relatively low proportion of the overall population considering the geographical size of the region. This should not be seen as a negative, rather it provides the region with its distinctly rural, and at times remote character which can be advantageous. Populations are never dispersed evenly across a region or county, there are always locations which attract people to live more so than others. The urbanisation of populations is a global trend that shows no sign of abating and this is evident in our region, but the NWRA region, as a whole, remains a rural region. Each county has a majority living in rural areas, with Leitrim the highest on 89%. Sligo is the most urban county, with 39% of its population living in such areas, however, this is significantly lower than the state average of 62%. In Figure 6 population dispersal is mapped across the region, showing those areas with a higher density than others. Over the two decades spanning the period between 1996 and 2016, Ireland has seen steady growth in population. This growth rate was approximately 7.5% over each inter-census period. Over the same period, the NWRA region also grew, initially at lower levels of 6.1% between 1996 and 2002, but then surpassing the national average throughout the next two inter-census periods. The period between 2002 to 2006 saw a growth of 7.8% in the region, while the following period between 2006 and 2011 saw a growth of 7.9%. The region, as a whole, had an additional 179,960 persons recorded as living within it as of 2016, compared to 1996.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 14 1 Context
- NWRA Boundary Major Settlements County Boundary Population Density 2016 Census 0 - 100 101 - 501 501 - 1000 1001 - 3000 3001 - 5000 5001 - 38900 Figure 6: Population Density Map (Persons per sq.km)Northern & Western Regional Assembly 15 1 Context
- From the graph below (Figure 8) it becomes clear that Galway has been the primary beneficiary of population growth within the region over the last two decades. It comprises approximately 38% of the total increase or 69,204 persons. Donegal accounted for 16% of the total, Cavan saw 13% and Mayo 11%. Roscommon, Monaghan, Sligo and Leitrim accounted for 7%, 6%, 5% and 4% of the total increase respectively. All eight counties saw their pattern of growth stunted during the 2011 to 2016 period, although perhaps worryingly both Donegal and Mayo recorded decreases in their population during this spell. Figure 7: Population of the Northern & Western Region vs Rest of the Country Figure 8: Population of the Region 1996-2016 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 1996 2002 2006 YEAR Galway Donegal Mayo Cavan Sligo Roscommon Monaghan Leitrim 2011 2016 17.8% 82.2% N O R T H E R N I R E L A N DRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 16 1 Context
- As is the case in the rest of Ireland, the NWRA has an ageing population. The age cohorts that cover a range between 20 to 44 have seen a decline which can be explained by emigration. Figure 9: Population Pyramid for the Northern & Western Region Age Group -10.0% -8.0% -6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% % Male% Female 85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 Figure 10: Projected Population Figures for each County in the Northern & Western Region Population loss of these particular cohorts is indeed more pronounced in the region, and this is something that requires mitigation. Younger adults inevitably follow employment opportunities, and with increased numbers of the Irish population undertaking third level education, there is a requirement to facilitate these graduates with professional employment opportunities. The concept of compact growth and the prioritisation of development in our larger urban cores is one such way this can be achieved. If our existing larger urban centres can consolidate their positions and enhance their offerings further, it will attract people back to live and work in the region. Thus, the focus upon placemaking, education, training, innovation and skills will be some of the key enablers. 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 Monaghan Cavan Roscommon Mayo Galway Leitrim Sligo Donegal 2016 2026 2031Northern & Western Regional Assembly 17 1 Context
- By 2040 there will be up to an additional 180,000 people living across this region; requiring an additional 115,000 jobs to be created. An exciting proposition but if we fail to plan for this growth and the demands it will generate on our built and natural environment, as well as on our social and economic fabric; then the financial and lifestyle impact could be significant. To put this in perspective, this region, by 2040 will be servicing an additional population equivalent to that of County Donegal. This puts pressure on public services, housing, education, health and amenities but it also creates tremendous opportunities for sustainable and compact growth that produces significant economic dividend. Delivering an effective alignment of plans at national, regional and local levels and shifting away from a business-as-usual scenario towards more compact growth, will require a period of transition. Transitional population projections have been provided by the DHPLG in Circular Letter FPS 04/2018 ‘Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework’, which sets out the principles for calculating these figures. It plots a growth trajectory set approximately mid-way between what is currently being planned for constituent statutory County / City Development Plans if projected forward to 2031, and the more likely evidencebased and nationally coherent projected scenario to 2031 and 2040. These ‘adjusted’ transitional figures will apply to 2026 and will also inform the period to 2031. Figure 10 provides a visual overview of the projected population figures for each County in the region. To view the Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework visit: https://www.nwra.ie/rses/ COMMERCIAL PROFILE Figure 11 and Figure 12, highlight the latest commercial vacancy rates for the counties and the main towns of the Northern and Western region relative to the national average. In terms of counties, Sligo recorded the highest commercial vacancy rate in the State, with a rate of 18.9%, which was 5.7 percentage points higher than the national average of 13.2%. In contrast, Meath had the lowest commercial vacancy rate in the State, registering a rate of 10.4% in the quarter. Strikingly, as of Q4 2018, the six counties with the highest vacancy rates in the State were all based in the Northern and Western Region, and this has generally been the case since the GeoDirectory publication began in 2013. Similarly, commercial vacancy rates in some of the region’s most prominent towns were also high with Ballina, Sligo Town, Castlebar, Roscommon Town, and Monaghan Town all registering vacancy rates above 20%. Out of the eleven towns selected for this analysis, only Westport registered a commercial vacancy rate below the national average of 13.2%. VIEW PDF AT: ! https://www.nwra.ie/wp-content/uploads /2019/11/npf-implementation-roadmap.pdfRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 18 1 Context
- Figure 11: Commercial Vacancy Rates by County (Quarter 2, 2019) 18.9% 16.7% 16.3% 16.3% 16.2% 15.8% 13.3% 13.2% 12.8% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% Sligo Leitrim Roscommon Mayo Galway Donegal State Average Monaghan Cavan Source: GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy Report Figure 12: Commercial Vacancy Rates by Prominent Town (Quarter 2, 2019) 22.9% 22.5% 21.3% 21.0% 20.3% 20.0% 18.5% 17.6% 16.3% 15.6% 13.3% 12.3% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% Ballina Sligo Town Tuam Roscommon Town Monaghan Town Castlebar Letterkenny Carrick on Shannon Galway City Cavan Town State Average Westport Source: GeoDirectory Commercial Vacancy ReportNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 19 1 Context
- QUALITY OF LIFE While the region faces challenges for some of the key quality of life indicators, such as access to employment, it is well recognised that residents of the region enjoy high standards, particularly in terms of environmental quality and social capital. There is a growing recognition of the relationship between the environment, quality of life and regional identity and thus a desire to protect these assets for the value they contribute to our lifestyle and the regional economy as well as for their intrinsic value. The Trutz Haase deprivation index is an indicator of the quality of life that measures relative affluence and deprivation through a range of inputs. It is clear from this index in 2016 that the more urbanised locations are also the most affluent, while the opposite is also true, with the more rural regions in north-west Mayo and Donegal proving to be the most deprived. Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental indicator that impacts on regional quality of life and successful communities. According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), the region is performing marginally above average in terms of people per General Practitioner (GP) with 3.4% fewer people per GP than the State average. Figure 13 below shows the key regional trends for health, education, diversity and access to walking and cycling trails. Figure 13: Key Regional Trends for Working, Education, Diversity and Access to Walking and Cycling Trails 2,725 86% 27.5% Quality of Life Indicators within the Northern and Western Region people on average per GP The region has 3-4% better GP coverage per Capita than the State Average of people in the region self-declared to be in good health in 2016 County Mayo has the highest GP coverage per Capita in the region with 27.5% less people per GP than the State Average. 36% County Monaghan has the lowest GP coverage per Capita in the region with 36% morepeople per GP than the State Average. Self-declared disability in the region in 2016 was 13.5% – in line with the State Average The region’s population contains 3% less non-white Irish ethnicities (14.8%) than that of the State (17.8%) Cavan and Monaghan have seen the biggest increases in Third Level educational attainment in the region from 2011 with 2.0% and 2.0% increases respectively The region contains 37% of the State’s blue flag beaches, 13% of its walking trails and 4% of its cycling trails County Cavan was the lowest levels of self-declared good health at 82.5% Only counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo have less population per GP than the State Average DONEGAL LEITRIM SLIGO CAVAN MONAGHAN ROSCOMMON MAYO GALWAYRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 20 1 Context
Source Northern and Western Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032 (January 2020) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.