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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- DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Ireland’s communications network is responsible for saving lives, encouraging economic growth as well as providing citizens with access to work, entertainment and social media. Staying connected and competitive in a globalised society is key to economic success. Ireland positions itself as the home of many of the world’s leading technology companies and is at the heart of ICT in Europe. However, there is an imbalance in the access to digital services available to the citizens of Ireland versus that available to business. Ireland currently sits in eighth position in the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index, which measures connectivity, human capital, use of Internet, integration of digital technology and digital public services. However, Ireland is ranked first when it comes to the Integration of Digital Technology for Businesses. Access to broadband is becoming ever more integral to how businesses operate, meaning it is key to economic performance. Similarly, we are seeing a proliferation of employment opportunities and positions that are less bounded by physical location, such as an office in a particular town, but instead, require fast and efficient internet access. Both of these changes in the economy have seen an increase in people working from home, therefore an understanding of the rates of broadband access across a region are key. The inference being that the higher levels of broadband connectivity, the more opportunities for economic growth. Our region boasts new digital infrastructure. Aqua Comms laid a transatlantic fibre cable directly from Ross Strand in Killala to Long Island, New York. The subsea fibre optic cable provides a super-fast internet connection and is poised to be a catalyst in attracting major investment. The cable can handle up to one-third of the world’s telephone calls and can cover the entire internet traffic of Europe and the US. The system enables 53.8-millisecond transfer speeds across the Atlantic. Likewise, the Hibernia Atlantic Group connects locations in the North including Letterkenny, Derry, and Strabane, extending onwards to many strategic locations including Monaghan and Drogheda through Project Kelvin. Other initiatives that have provided limited services in this region include the National Broadband Scheme, which provided basic broadband services in areas that could not be commercially served, and the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS) which provide fibre-based connectivity to towns across the region.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 231 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- Figure 59: International Cables Serving Ireland The weakness/absence of high-quality telecommunications infrastructure, which is accessible to all parts of the region, has been a constant refrain to the Assembly in much of the stakeholder’s consultation carried out to date. The condition of this infrastructure is cross-cutting among the social, community, commercial and educational interests throughout the region. It is seen by many as an impediment to the current and future development of the region. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 6.35 A feasibility study will be undertaken to explore economic opportunities arising from transatlantic cable connectivity through a Regional Partnership approach.Regional Spatial and E conomic Strategy 2020-2032 232 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- 6.5 Broadband Connectivity Across the State, 70.7% of households have broadband connectivity, while 18.4% do not. Within the NWRA region, we see that 63.6% of households have a broadband connection with 23.3% unconnected. Other forms of internet connection amount to 10.3% of total households in the NWRA region, while a lower 7.8% of households have these alternative internet connections across the State. Access to broadband is invariably found to be higher in the more urbanised locations. This is to be expected as operators and providers will tend to concentrate their services in locations containing larger numbers of people. However, the Government has committed to increasing the levels of access all across Ireland, particularly in our rural areas, under the National Broadband Plan. This plan was originally published in 2012, with an update made in 2015, and it aims to deliver highspeed broadband to all businesses and households in Ireland. The tender process is now complete, and it is expected that when the fibre rollout is complete across the Country, all households and businesses will enjoy speeds of 30 Mb/s. At present, there are wide swathes of our region, both rural and urban, with little or no access to broadband. Some locations have speeds of no more than 1.98Mbps. Our region is driven by our business and to a large extent our SME’s, which are being hindered in their operations and expansion opportunities. Figure 60: Household Broadband Connectivity NWRA State 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% Not stated No Other Broadband 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%Northern & Western Regional Assembly 233 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- An understanding of the current levels of connectivity is required if these ambitious plans are to be realised and a targeted approach can be taken. The map of Ireland shown below takes an ED-level approach to the identification of broadband access and is taken from Census 2016 data. The darker shaded areas are those with the highest levels of access, while the lighter ones have the least. The percentages are totals of respondents from within each ED who have stated their level of access. Figure 61: Broadband AccessRegional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 234 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- The following map is derived from the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment’s website. It charts the dissemination of high-speed broadband across the region, with key settlements and road infrastructure highlighted. The areas of dark blue colouring are where “commercial operators are delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high-speed broadband services”. The lighter blue areas are those areas where EIR has committed to commercial rural deployment plans to rollout highspeed broadband to 300,000 premises. Finally, the amber areas are considered “target areas for the State Intervention of the National Broadband Plan”. NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN The solution to the inadequacy of a resilient and accessible high-speed broadband is contained within the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which aims to ensure that every home, school and business in the country has access to high-speed broadband. In November 2019, the Government approved the construction of the €3bn NBP, which will be rolled out over the next five years The installation of Ireland’s nationwide broadband infrastructure is akin to the electrification of rural Ireland in the last century in terms of scale, ambition and the socioeconomic benefits it will deliver. There is a dual approach to achieving this aim. g Commercial Investment g State intervention in those areas where commercial operators are unlikely to invest. Figure 62: Broadband Map of the RegionNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 235 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- The state intervention targets over 20% of the population and workforce, 23% of premises, over 60% of farms, 13% of schools and 4% of business parks. The overall aim of the intervention is to build, maintain and future proof a high-speed broadband network, which can evolve to speeds of up to 1,000 Mb/s. The vision of a future society with autonomous cars and remote doctors providing medical advice within people’s own homes may take time to be delivered but we need to plan for it now. Business, agriculture and the public sector are already becoming more reliant on the Internet as it becomes the main driver behind the delivery of services. By way of example, the farming industry is being supported by technology, enabling it to move from a traditional role of intuitive decision making to analysing data provided by sensors that monitor their land and animals which informs their decisions. The availability of online learning, or virtual classes offered over the internet, means delivery of education through online, means that living in the more remote locations within our region will not present a barrier to accessing education or upskilling. Within the health sector, it is already the case that patients’ files and diagnostic imagery can be sent between hospitals and larger health centres, most of which are located in urban areas which are well served by high broadband speeds. This has significant benefits to the convenience of vulnerable people and enables the provision of healthcare closer to the home of patients. As well as building out the required network infrastructure, wiring for high-speed broadband in all new buildings needs to be provided and the region’s existing building stock needs to be retrofitted. Consideration also needs to be given to identifying mobile blackspots and develop initiatives to address these. The strategy for this region is to fully support the delivery of the NBP and it is imperative that prioritisation is given to this region in the interests of achieving effective regional development. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES RPO 6.36 Support the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan within the lifetime of this strategy and grow the regional digital economy. RPO 6.37 All new development to provide specific ducting to enable broadband infrastructure. RPO 6.38 The Assembly supports the provision of Wifi Hotspots at appropriate publicly accessible locations. RPO 6.39 Provide information to businesses on the opportunities available through broadband connections. RPO 6.40 Encourage the utilisation and further development of our Municipal Area Networks.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 236 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- 6.6 Smart Region - Integrating Digital Trends Cities and regions globally are increasingly shifting towards innovation, bringing digitisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) into all aspects of human and business life. This movement is taking place to apply these technologies to addressing challenges while maintaining liveability. Smart places are magnets for knowledge, talent, creativity, high-value jobs and investment. This enables smart places to attract and retain talent and to grow their economy, while those that do not embrace this change will risk losing key demographics, resulting in economic, environmental and even social decline. The justification for including our Smart Region as a core ambition is that we cannot have a vibrant, connected, natural and inclusive region without harnessing this innovation. The reality in exploring our region is that we have many technological ‘solutions’ evidenced across many sectors that can be applied horizontally. In addition, strategy of this nature should be cognisant of the wider international trends and risks. To mitigate these, and particularly ‘Strategic Technological Change Risks’ identified in the ‘National Risk Assessment’, the Region needs to plan for critical information infrastructure and networks whilst also ensuring our people are prepared for trends in disruptive technologies. WHY A SMART REGION? Globally there is no single definition of a ‘Smart Region’. Each place must determine their interpretation and their objectives. Within a region, there are varying stakeholders, cities, institutions, industries and communities moving at different speeds with the application of technology to their challenges. Smart places are more than just places where technology is overlaid on an urban or rural landscape. They have to integrate with more traditional spatial values of liveability, community, health, sustainability and economic resilience. Our ambition is to enhance the reputation of this region of Ireland as an attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. We aim to develop a worldclass public infrastructure and regional governance structure using technological solutions that will allow all stakeholders in the region to participate in decision making and enjoy an enhanced environment. This approach will complement and support the growing number of organisations in the region that are already working with smart solutions to improve our local communities, from localised renewable energy generation to so-called Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and open connected data portals. WHY DO WE NEED A SMART REGION? 1. Respond to the increasing trend for connectivity and opportunities that will present for aligning policy with funding/resource opportunities to enhance competitiveness in this region. 2. Push the boundaries for promoting innovation and creativity and encourage greater partnership internally and externally. 3. Ensure that systems and institutions across this region respond to a demand for digital inclusion – education; local government; health; public services and industry where applicable. 4. Create a ‘Place’ recognised as the ‘best place to live’.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 237 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- SMART REGION POLICY CONTEXT Europe 2020 Strategy is the European Union’s (EU) agenda for growth and job creation. It emphasises smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and Smart Specialisation Strategies are recognised as enabling tools. The Regional Assembly recognise that knowledge discovery takes place in the region’s universities and research institutes, public administration, third sector and private companies. In addition, this discovery innovation is witnessed across our indigenous enterprises supported by a network of Local Enterprise Office(s) and Enterprise Ireland. Data innovation is recognised in Project Ireland 2040 as important being a key issue for the delivery of future growth. Emerging disruptive technology and innovation has the potential to accelerate the delivery of NPF National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) set out in Project Ireland 2040, in particular, National Strategic Outcome 5 (A Strong Economy supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills). The significance of Disruptive Technologies is such that Government is providing €500 million in a Disruptive Technology Fund, for co-funded projects involving enterprises and research partners over the period to 2027. Proposals will be selected following the submission of bid proposals, which will be expected to address the development, deployment and commercialisation of one or more disruptive technologies to deliver new solutions through investment in the development and implementation of new products and services. Ultimately, it is anticipated that the projects funded will create the jobs of the future. A further policy announcement which is to have considerable influence on how public services are to engage across our region is the Public Service ICT Strategy 2015, which requires the development of a “Digital First” approach to the supply of services to citizens. This requires a shift in culture so that we think digital first and design digital services around the needs of the end-user.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 238 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- FOUNDATIONS FOR A SMART REGION The region already boasts many assets that provide the foundations for it to accelerate its participation in the next economy. With a strong international reputation in CleanTech, Creative Industries, Food and Natural Resources; ICT, Manufacturing, Engineering, Life Science and RTDI, the region not only has the hard infrastructure for growth but also the skills, knowledge and reputation. Notwithstanding this, there are existing network challenges that need to be addressed to ensure participation in a Smart future. Becoming a Smart Region is a complex process and requires the sustained commitment of many different stakeholders. It is not something that the Regional Assembly can achieve alone. It is recognised that collaboration is critical to success in the smart region endeavour through the establishment of partnership strategies and collaborative approaches. There are already world-class examples of the application of technology across industry, sectors and community in the Northern and Western Region. There are also emerging clusters that can demonstrate that this region can be a world leader in some areas. SMARTBAY SmartBay Ireland supports the national marine test facility for the development of innovative products and services for the global maritime sector. This includes the trial and validation of novel marine sensors, prototype equipment and the collection and dissemination of marine data to national and international users of the facility. ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL OPEN DATA PORTAL This Open Data Portal has been made available by Roscommon County Council to promote innovation and transparency through the publication of data relating to the County of Roscommon in open, free and reusable formats, as well as through statistics, graphs and apps. AGINNOVATION The speed of technological advancement is changing the face of agriculture and giving rise to a new generation of agri-tech businesses and entrepreneurs. Galway City and Galway County Council commissioned the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway to undertake an industrial baseline study to support the development of an economic plan for the city and county. One of its core outputs is Visualisation using Public Data In an increasingly digital economy and technologydriven age, regions need to look towards new approaches, innovative technologies and smart infrastructure to create an environment that supports community and economic growth.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 239 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- CONCEPT OF A SMART REGION The concept of a Smart Region is derived from the similar concept of a Smart City, where a shared technological infrastructure is used to benefit citizens in a particular urban area. It however also recognised that cities do not exist in isolation and that concentrating the deployment of smart technologies to urban areas would be, at best, a missed opportunity. The concept of Smart Region is therefore much broader and considers smart technologies deployed throughout a larger geographical area, which might encompass our metropolitan, urban settlements, as well as non-urban areas. As such, it also potentially addresses a larger set of sectors than the ones typically addressed by Smart Cities (transport, energy, etc.), as well as collaboration between multiple local authorities. The Highland Council in Scotland is currently engaged in some projects supporting their cities in becoming smarter and better connected. Designed to use data and technology to enhance the region’s environmental sustainability, its economic development, and the well-being of its citizens, these projects aim to turn Inverness and its region into a smart city and a smart region. They include the deployment of an open data portal, the use of sensor data to optimise waste collection routes, improvement in the transport network with a focus on smart public transport and the deployment of public wireless networks across the region. Attributes that this region can focus on include, but are not limited to:Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 240 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region Smart Governance Smart Education Smart Healthcare Smart Building Smart Mobility Smart Infrastructure Smart Technology Smart Energy Smart Environment Smart Utilities Smart Innovation Smart Communities Smart Agriculture Smart Marine Smart Commerce Smart Tourism SMART CITY + SMART RURAL AREAS = SMART REGION Smart Industry Smart Policies
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