Regional strategy (RSES) · Southern Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region
The regional strategy for the Southern Region, including the Cork, Limerick–Shannon and Waterford metropolitan area strategic plans.
Southern Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 382 pages
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- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES121 Skills and Talent Boom and bust economic cycles have strongly affected employment. While boom periods seem positive, challenges arise, such as skills shortages when enterprises struggle to find the talent and right skills necessary for their operations and growth. This compounds technological progress that makes some skills obsolete and this is exacerbated by our low lifelong learning rate. National policy is to develop the skills that our enterprise base requires. There is a need to futureproof employment, identifying those sectors that are vulnerable and those that provide opportunities for the future and take steps to make sure that our people are as well-equipped as possible to take up the jobs of the future. We need to enable enterprises, and SMEs in particular, to invest in upskilling and reskilling their workforce, including their managerial capacity so as to enhance and maintain productivity, adapt to technological disruption, and identify and exploit emergent opportunities from the digital and green economies. Lifelong learning is important in this regard, as it provides the capacity for individuals to acquire new and relevant skills to more fulfil their needs and aspirations. Creating a Learning Region will assist in providing high quality and timely education and training responses to evolving enterprise and skills needs. This issue is dealt with in more detail in Chapter 7. RPO 63 Skills and Talent a. It is an objective to address the skills shortages challenges though Improvements in lifelong learning rates across the Region; b. When local skills shortages arise and skills development at local level is not possible in the short run, it is an objective to explore the attraction and absorption of incoming talent, with emphasis on accommodation, education and integration. Innovation In line with our national policy Innovation 2020 and the EU’s Horizon 2020, the RSES places emphasis on enhancing our regional innovation capacity. The EU’s Open Innovation, Open Science, Open to the World - a vision for Europe states that: “Innovation can no longer be seen as the result of predefined and isolated innovation activities but rather as the outcome of a complex co-creation process involving knowledge flows across the entire economic and social environment.” Consistent with this policy, research activity in higher education institutions, and within the open innovation ecosystem of which these institutions necessarily are part, increasingly involves the co-creation and coproduction of new knowledge in a manner that values and systematically enables collaboration. This new knowledge is highly impactful and a driver of economic growth. Our Region has seven major higher education institutions, four of which are currently in the process of redisignation as Technological Universities (Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee will form the Munster Technological University, while Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology will form the Technological University of the South East). HEIs will have a leading role in encouraging innovation and the application, including the commercial application, of all forms of intellectual property. The RSES strongly supports their role as a vital part of the overall regional proposition. The competitive fund of Disruptive Technology Innovation managed by DBEI is an important mechanism within Project Ireland 2040 to stimulate our regional innovation capacity. It encourages collaboration in Research, Development and Innovation between two or more enterprises located in Ireland or one or more Enterprises working with one or more Research Performing Organisations located in Ireland. The fund identifies the Government research priorities areas that industrial research bidding for funds should focus on: ICT; Health and well-being; Food; Energy, Climate Action and Sustainability; Manufacturing and Materials; and Services and Business Processes. These priority areas are underpinned by overarching science and technology platforms: Basic Biomedical Science; Nanotechnology; Advanced Materials; Microelectronics; Photonics and, Software Engineering. Strongly foster bids for industrial research projects to the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Competitive Fund.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES122 Entrepreneurship – A pipeline for growth Entrepreneurship translates into new business formation, wealth, and jobs. Entrepreneurship and new and sustainable business start-ups thrive within a dynamic community of like-minded and supportive people. It is important that an enterprise-friendly ecosystem is facilitated, including skills-matching, collaborations between government, industry, higher education and communities. In line with the national policy vision to be the best country in which to succeed in business, our ambition is to create a business environment that facilitates and supports business through all phases of its lifecycle. The focus is on establishing a dynamic environment where like-minded people can collaborate, network, cowork and have ready access to experienced mentors. We need to raise the Region’s profile internationally - and Ireland as a whole - as a vibrant focus for entrepreneurship and talent. Establishing an environment to stimulate entrepreneurship will require continuous assessment to take the necessary actions in a timely manner to redress barriers. RPO 64 Facilitate new business formation, growth and industrial re-organisation a. It is an objective to remove business startup obstacles as appropriate, to seek ways in which risks can be minimised, to redress any (mis-) perceptions of failure within the entrepreneurial community and to promote entrepreneurship as a valid career option within the Region; b. It is an objective to facilitate the transition of talent from declining industries to more competitive sectors through the use of Labour Activation Programmes and market re-activation emergency funds. RPO 65 Attracting overseas Entrepreneurs and maintaining Irish entrepreneurs It is an objective to continue attracting overseas entrepreneurs to Ireland and supporting existing Irish entrepreneurship. RPO 67 Enterprise and Innovation Support It is an objective to maintain and leverage existing enterprise ecosystems to support enterprise development. RPO 66 Monitoring and evaluating our economic eco-system performance a. It is an objective to map, monitor and evaluate our economic ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation; b. It is an objective to monitor and benchmark the Region against other relevant jurisdictions nationally and overseas. Enterprise development and innovation assets – Enterprise supporting ecosystem Led by DBEI and its enterprise development agencies, such as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the enterprisesupporting eco-system comprises of Business Innovation Centres, Incubators, Community enterprise centres, accelerator development scheme, Local Enterprise Offices (LEO), research and innovation infrastructure within higher education institutes, technology gateways, technology centres, research centres, and IDA Ireland Business and Technology Parks. This complements green and brownfield key strategic locations for IDA Ireland.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES123 RPO 68 Regional Investment It is an objective to develop and coordinate the regional investment plan, to enable: • Sustainable development of infrastructures that creates a platform for enterprise creation and innovation in the Southern Region; • Safeguarding of the Region’s cost competitiveness by supporting an infrastructure led approach to planning for jobs growth; • enterprise infrastructures and initiatives of economic, education and skills development to improve our ranking under the EU Regional Competitiveness Index; • Sustainable housing provision with accessibility to locations where jobs are concentrated, ensuring quality neighbourhoods with supporting infrastructures and services are developed in tandem with jobs growth; • Initiatives that protect and strengthen the qualities that distinguish the Southern Region as a High Quality of Life destination on the global stage; • All proposals for investment in infrastructure shall be subject to robust site selection and environmental feasibility/assessment including Flood Risk Assessment. This should include explicit consideration of the likely significant effects on European sites and potential for adverse effects on the integrity of European sites in advance of any development. Infrastructure Continuous investment in infrastructure is important to keep up with growing demands. In line with the NDP of Project Ireland 2040, several large infrastructure projects are approved, subject to feasibility studies. In addition, competitive funds such as REDF, URDF, RRDF, DTIF and CAF are designed to incentivise creativity and collaboration across industry, government, higher education institutes and communities to continuously identify projects to address bottlenecks that hinder progress. The Land Development Agency will play an important role in facilitating infrastructure investment. Research by the ESRI2 point to specific factors such as connectivity - including transport infrastructure and broadband - availability of talent and human capital, proximity to a third level institute, and the presence of a diverse local enterprise base as factors required to form new business formation. In this context, the lack of a competitive and internationally recognised university in the South-East puts it at a disadvantage and hinders the potential for new business formation. Therefore, the development of the Technological University of the South- East (TUSE) is critical to the future economic performance of the South-East SPA within the Region. 2. McCoy et al (2018). Communique: https://bit.ly/2PL1Ya9; Scientific Article: https://bit.ly/2DGlFbQ
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES124 International good practice, flexibility and adaptability Continued research and sharing good practice will be essential in the implementation of the RSES. Our Region must be open to continual learning, innovation and adaptation. The impetus is to establish a region that reflects international good practice through the RSES and MASPs. Procurement is a crucial pillar of service delivery and a strategic tool for achieving key policy objectives across all sectors under RSES. The development and promotion of best practice in the field is recognised in this strategy and is highly desirable to achieving, i.e. budget accountability, spending efficiency, buying green and promoting strategic use of public procurement in development of SMEs, and by facilitating SMEs access to a wider range of public contracts.3 Bidding capacity With the introduction of competitive bids as part of Project Ireland 2040 and similar frameworks to access funds from sources such as EU programmes, there is a need to ensure that all local authorities and local stakeholders have sufficient capacity to identify funding sources and to prepare professional and robust applications. Common & shared evidence base A common and shared evidence base will inform the forthcoming reviews of LAPs, LECPs and the local authority development plans. There is a need at a local level for monitoring the governance patterns of Global Production Networks and/or Global Value Chains that may affect the sector competitiveness and sustainable prospects in the locality. There also is the need to strengthen the monitoring and mapping of the regional eco-system of innovation and entrepreneurship. There is emerging research and technology that enables this development, V-LINC from the Cork Institute of Technology is an example. 4.8 | Capacity Building: Bidding Capacity, Shared Evidence Base, Future Proof and Anticipating Economic Structural Changes RPO 69 International Good Practice a. It is an objective to undertake on-going research and report of international good practice and innovations in addressing themes as outlined across the RSES Objectives. b. It is an objective to adopt a flexible and adaptable policy approach to allow for the integration on good practice, innovation and knowledge internationally from regions sharing similar challenges. RPO 70 Bidding capacity It is an objective to develop and strengthen the bidding capacity of local authorities, government agencies and regional stakeholders i.e. their capacity to identify infrastructure deficits and opportunities, to prepare strong business cases, to identify funding sources, to bid, and successfully attract competitive funding. RPO 71 Shared Evidence Base It is an objective to build a common, up-to-date, dynamic and shared evidence base and monitoring framework at regional and local level with information on assets, economic base, settlement functions, and economic performance. 3. Note that all public organisations (and private entities which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body) are subject to procurement procedures set out in the National Public Procurement Policy Framework
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES125 Future Proof – Readiness to address emerging challenges The aim of Economic Risk Management System is to evaluate the risk exposure to the Region, using an evidence-based analysis. There is a need to prepare and be ready to address emerging issues when planning and designing strategies, an assessment of whether or not assumptions or current conditions will maintain or change over the strategy timeframe is extremely important. In this regard, the National Risk Assessment continuously scans for potential risks. There are a variety of emerging issues, such as Brexit, international tax developments, US trade and investment policies, technological advances, and climate change, and others will emerge. Based on this foresight exercise, developing a prevention or contingency plan provides preparedness and readiness. RPO 72 Brexit It is an objective to put in place measures to reduce the negative impact from the departure of the UK from the EU. RPO 75 Anticipating Economic Structural Changes It is an objective to support diversification, economic resilience and to devise and introduce contingency plans and pilot projects based on the strengths of the Region to counteract the effects from industrial decline and potential external shocks in the Region. This may include lifelong learning programmes; appropriate business supports and upskilling to facilitate moving to alternative sectors in the locality or region. RPO 74 Economic Risk Management System It is an objective to prepare and operate an economic risk management system, with preventive action plans, considering social and environment factors. RPO 73 International branding of the Region and reputation It is an objective to promote the Region through a comprehensive communication and promotion strategy, including the development of a regional brand with international focus building on heritage, culture and attractive qualities. Anticipating economic structural changes It is important to recognise that, given changes in the industrial and economic landscape, some sectors are under pressure, with the risk of jobs loses. Therefore, mechanisms are needed to support people engaged in declining industries by means of up-skilling, lifelong learning and communication strategies to redirect their talents and skills for meaningful and valued activities.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES126 4.9 | Marine and Coastal Assets 4.9.1 | The Maritime Spatial Planning Directive Coastal and marine assets include the territorial waters of the Irish Continental Shelf in the Atlantic, the coastline and islands, the major commercial Ports of Cork, Rosslare- Europort, Shannon-Foynes and Waterford, the fishing ports and harbours, and our cultural and natural heritage. The Region is ideally placed to improve economic growth through the sustainable use of its marine resource. Ireland’s continental shelf or seabed territory is the largest in Europe covering more than ten times our landmass. This territory is the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) for Ireland, i.e. the sea zones within which a country has exclusive rights over the exploitation of marine resources. The EU’s Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, adopted in 2014, provides a framework for Marine Spatial Planning and requires a coordinated, integrated and transboundary approach to promote the sustainable development and growth of the maritime and coastal economies. Ireland is developing a National Marine Planning Framework as the marine counterpart to terrestrial spatial plans, such as the NPF, and will set out sectoral policies in areas such as offshore energy, port development and the marine environment as well as addressing the impact of climate change including implications from changes in sea levels and rising sea temperature. It will cover the entire maritime area. Drawing from the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) baseline report published in September 2018, a number of strategic high-level objectives for marine planning are identified and supported by the RSES, including: • Promote the sustainable development of a thriving ocean economy. • Robust governance and meaningful public and stakeholder participation. • Address land and sea interactions. • Promote vibrant, accessible and sustainable coastal and island communities. • Adapt ecosystems-based approaches and ensure the pressure of human activities take into account the precautionary principle and moves towards achievement of good environmental status. • Realise the potential of marine resources in an integrated fashion. • Promote preservation and enjoyment of marine related cultural and heritage assets. • Strengthen our marine identity. • Develop a sound marine evidence base. • Contribute towards climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Consult and coordinate on transboundary issues. The Region will play an active part in assisting the preparation of the Draft NMPF and adopt measures necessary to secure the objectives of NMPF. RPO 76 Marine Economy It is an objective to ensure alignment, and consistency between land use and ocean-based planning, and to ensure co-ordination, which supports the protection of the marine environment and the growth of the marine economy.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES127 RPO 77 Maritime Spatial planning - Consistency and Alignment It is an objective to support the integration of different uses in the marine environment and ensure consistency and alignment between high-level plans such as the National Marine Planning Framework, regional based approaches to maritime spatial planning and localised coastal management plans and local integrated coastal zone management plans. It is important to be cognisant of the need to promote crossboundary management of coastal areas within the Region. Any development of plans in coastal zones should be informed by the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. RPO 78 First Mover under the National Marine Planning Framework. It is an objective to support the sustainable development of the potential of the marine environment foster opportunities for innovation in the maritime economy and drive forward the Region as a first mover under marine spatial planning while preserving the environmental and ecological conservation status of our marine natural resource. Initiatives arising from this objective shall be subject to robust feasibility and site selection, which includes flood risk assessments and explicit consideration of likely significant effects on European sites and potential for adverse effects on their integrity in advance of any development. The RSES encourages close interaction between higher education, state agencies, and enterprise to position the Region in as a leader in this field. Good Practice Example: Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary The Shannon Estuary forms the largest estuarine complex in the country; it is Ireland’s premier deepwater port and is a national economic and environmental asset. The Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary is a land and marine based framework plan to guide the future development and management of the Shannon Estuary. It has identified an additional 1,200 hectares for marine related development (9 no. strategic development locations) by building on existing industry connectivity and synergy as well as the existing infrastructure to create a more sustainable and attractive network for further investment. Significant tracts of land have been zoned for marinerelated industry in Counties Clare, Limerick and Kerry because of the preparation of the SIFP and these sites present prime opportunities for employmentgenerating development in the Region. The Clare MEZ (Maritime Economic Zone) project for Cahiracon is a wave and offshore renewable energy test-site initiative by Clare County Council to provide specialist infrastructure, accommodation and development space for a range of different maritime-related niche businesses. The aim of the facility will be to provide mandatory maritime training courses and valueadded training for non-seafaring personnel taking up positions at sea. There is significant opportunities to grow the Blue Economy through offshore wave and wind renewable energy in the Shannon Estuary and the West coast of County Clare, reflecting the key natural assets of wave and wind energy, together with the presence of grid- connections. The zoned lands at Tarbert/Ballylongford in North Kerry with extant planning for strategic energy and marine related industry including the Shannon Gas LNG project are a further example of the regional and national potential of the location. The SIFP requires marketing and promotion support both from a financial and expertise perspective. Shannon Estuary and Other Harbour Plans a. The RSES recognises the national and international importance of the Shannon Estuary, its potential to attract multinational development and the significant work that has been undertaken to progress its promotion and development. It is an objective to support and promote the delivery of the Strategic Development Locations as set out in the SIFP for the Shannon Estuary subject to the implementation of mitigation measures outlined in the SEA and AA undertaken on SIFP and zoned in the Local Authority Development Plans. b. It is an objective to promote the SIFP initiative as a good practice model for the Southern Region and to seek the preparation of similar initiatives for Cork Harbour and Waterford Harbour between the relevant stakeholders. c. It is an objective to support the promotion, marketing and seeking of financial and expertise support for the Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary and specific projects emerging there from. d. Such initiatives shall be subject to the relevant environmental assessment requirements including SEA, EIA SFRA and AA as appropriate. RPO 79
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES128 Fisheries and Aquaculture Fishing and Aquaculture are significant to the economy of the coastal areas. The RSES supports Fishing Local Area Group (FLAG) Development Strategies, which provide a framework for community and economic development that support coastal and island communities. The FLAG Strategies identify National Fisheries Harbour Centres (NFHC) including Castletownbere, Daingean Ui Chúis and Dunmore East. The industry faces challenges in relation to seasonal employment, fish stocks and coastal hazards. At a regional level there are however opportunities for growth through diversification and development of bio resources including food, aquaculture and off shore renewables. The RSES will support the sustainable growth and development of the seafood sector and Fishery Harbour Centres. In addition, the RSES will ensure planned activities on land do not adversely affect the marine economy. Our sea vegetable industry, currently in its infancy has potential. This could become a growth sector if developed sustainably with small scale farming (such as kelp), a beneficial way of production rather than large-scale harvesting. There is also potential from Marine Protected Areas and the potential for the benefits to contribute to the economy. Marine Biotechnology Fish, shellfish, seaweeds and other marine species offer significant potential for food and ingredients companies to target the estimated €242m global market for functional foods and ingredients. 4.9.2 | Growing the Blue Economy As an island nation, we are highly dependent on our seas for trade, fishing, energy and tourism. Future challenges will be to align marine resources with conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem health. There is potential for the offshore renewable energy sector (ORE) but there are also challenges, including sea level rise. Each of the Region’s three main cities and ports are built around coasts, harbours and estuaries. The Region has an opportunity to harness excellent research available from some of our institutions in our Region. The RSES acknowledges the special role of our coastal settlements by recognising that the tourism and leisure sectors can help support and promote traditional and new marine-based industries and activities. Examples of potential in this sector in the South- West include Cork Harbour, a location with multiple functions and harbour communities within a sensitive ecological area. Refer to the Cork MASP for specific Cork Harbour objective. There is potential to strengthen a West Cork Marine Network, locations sharing port, marine leisure, fisheries, energy, harbour regeneration and tourism assets on the N71 corridor including Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, Schull and Castletownbere. RPO 80 Marine Resource and Blue Economy It is an objective to support the development of new coalitions amongst productive sector enterprises, coastal communities and public agencies to support the sustainable development of the marine resource and Blue Economy. Any supports arising, which result in further expansion of or new enterprise will be subject to the outcomes of the required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment process. RPO 81 Fishery Harbour Centres and Local Authority Harbours It is an objective to seek investment in the sustainable development of infrastructure improvements to Fishery Harbour Centres and Local Authority Harbours in the Southern Region. Robust site selection and environmental feasibility and assessment is required in advance of seeking investment.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES129 RPO 82 Seafood Sector It is an objective to seek investment in the delivery of sustainable actions and development of the seafood sector under existing and future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programmes. Robust site selection and environmental feasibility and assessment is required in advance of seeking investment. RPO 85 Renewable offshore energy To promote regional cooperation in terms of offshore renewable energy development, environmental monitoring and awareness of the benefits of realising the Region’s offshore energy potential. Initiatives arising from this objective shall be subject to robust feasibility and site selection, which includes explicit consideration of likely significant effects on European Sites and potential for adverse effects on the integrity of European sites in advance of any development. RPO 86 Marine Cluster It is an objective to develop a research driven marine cluster in the Southern Region to support development of Marine ICT and Biotechnology. Initiatives arising from this objective shall be subject to robust feasibility and site selection, which includes flood risk assessment explicit consideration of likely significant effects on European Sites and potential for adverse effects on the integrity of European sites in advance of any development. RPO 83 Island and Coastal Communities It is an objective to seek investment in the sustainable development of infrastructure (physical and social), access (upgraded pier infrastructure, landing facilities and passenger and cargo ferry services), regional connectivity (transport networks and digital), enterprise growth and deliver initiatives by Local Authorities, UnG, local communities and other stakeholders to strengthen and sustainably grow our Region’s island and coastal communities. Robust site selection and environmental feasibility is required in advance of seeking investment including all necessary flood risk assessments. RPO 84 Fishing Local Area Group (FLAG) Development Strategies It is an objective to seek the implementation and investment in actions that support the Fishing Local Area Group (FLAG) Development Strategies to support coastal and island communities. Robust site selection and environmental feasibility is required in advance of seeking investment, including all necessary flood risk assessments. Offshore energy resources The NPF supports the progressive development of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential, including domestic and international grid connectivity through the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). Wind energy is currently the largest contributor of renewable energy and it has the potential to achieve between 11-16GW of onshore wind and 30GW of offshore wind by 2050 (SEAI, 2016). The sector can make a significant contribution to meeting national energy demands while attaining our energy and emissions targets for 2020 and beyond. The OREDP has designated several areas in Ireland as suitable for development of tidal energy including the South-East Coast. Coast. Wave energy is more suitable for development on the west coast. Our Region will be a leader in the development of renewable energy resources through initiatives such as the ESB West Wave Project - which will be the first wave energy project connected to the grid.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES130 5 Introduction Environmental protection is a core component of the RSES and the Strategy statement in Ch. 2 underlines the need to: • Safeguard and enchance our environment through sustainable development, transitioning to a low carbon and climate resilient society. Environment CREATING A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR A HEALTHY SOCIETY Q 8 Ireland has a generally good overall natural environment compared to many other countries1. However, many challenges remain in protecting this resource and globally we face a significant threat due to climate change. The RSES seeks to integrate sustainable economic and social development with the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. It has a key vision of advancing social progress and prosperity through sustainable policies for allocating resources and developing a quality human environment consistent with respect for the natural environment. 1. Ireland’s Environment: An Assessment, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2016
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