Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region

1. Page 51

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2. Page 52

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES52 Key Town Ennis Ennis, with a population of 25,276 in 2016, is the largest town in Munster and the fifth largest settlement in the Region. The triangle of Limerick-Shannon-Ennis is recognised as the economic engine of the Mid-West. The M18 has created a greater synergy and connection between Ennis and Galway and there is potential to attract economic drivers/ infrastructure such as data centres. In this context, Ennis should build on its current talent and skills offer and attract a higherlevel education campus. The preparation of the ‘Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy’ offers an opportunity to create a long-term strategy for the sustainable development of the town.

3. Page 53

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES53 Attributes • Strategic location relative to Limerick and Galway Cities and Shannon International Airport • Improved synergies between Ennis and Galway due to the M18 • Rail, bus and motorway connectivity • Economic triangle of Limerick - Shannon – Ennis • High quality ‘dark fibre broadband’ and innovation in electronics • Availability of various opportunity sites allowing expansion of the town centre • Availability of strategic brownfield sites, such as the Roche site and Clarecastle (23ha). • Information Age Park Opportunity site –brownfield site (20.8ha). • Proximity to internationally recognised tourism assets, including Cliffs of Moher, Burren, Loop Head and to towns and villages in West Clare • Centre for culture, music, heritage and tourism • High quality of life, attractive town centre and tidy towns winner, boutique capital of Munster • Ennis General Hospital Key Infrastructural Requirements i. Provision of a new access to the motorway from the Quin Road to alleviate significant heavy traffic from the town ii. Strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in rail infrastructure to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to high level to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity; iii. Northern Inner Relief road, linking Gort Road (R458) to Tulla Road (R351) iv. Link from Drumcliff Road (L4182) to Lahinch Road (N85) v. Link from Drumcliff Road (L4182) to Gort Road (R458) vi. Link from Clon Road (R871) to Quin Road (R469) vii. A Local Transport Plan, including mobility management, to facilitate the delivery/ development of key town centre opportunity sites and public realm enhancement initiatives viii. Water and wastewater infrastructure for phased growth ix. Enhance the potential for green infrastructure leaders between recreational facilities at Lees Road, West Clare Railway line, Ballyallia Lake, the River Fergus and Clarecastle x. Redevelopment of Our Lady’s Hospital Ennis a. To support Ennis as a self-sustaining, regional economic driver and as a key location for investment choice in the region, to support its enhanced development based on its strategic location relative to Limerick and Galway Cities and Shannon International Airport, as well as its role as a centre of employment and economic activity within the Region. The RSES recognises that this should be supported and enhanced through initiatives such as the Atlantic Economic Corridor; b. To support the implementation of Ennis 2040 to set the long-term economic strategy for the county town with an agreed focus on an economic future and spatial pattern to 2040 and beyond. The RSES recognises the higher education growth potential of Ennis and its vision to become a centre for lifelong learning; c. To support the delivery of the infrastructural requirements identified for Ennis, subject to the outcome of the planning process and environmental assessments; d. To strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in existing rail infrastructure and seek investment for improved infrastructure and services to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to high level in order to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity including improved frequency and journey times. RPO 13

4. Page 54

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES54 Education Attainment: All Third Level Mode of Travel to Work Ennis StateSouthern Region 35% 33.4% 30.3% 25,276 POPULATION 3.7% UP State 0.3% DOWN Ennis 2.9% UP Southern Region Population Change 2011 - 2016 Housing Vacancy* *Excluding Holiday Homes StateEnnis Southern Region 10.6% 9.6% 9.1% 10,172 TOTAL JOBS 0.981 Ratio Jobs to Resident Workers 73.6% 3.2% 15.9% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling Ennis 70% 7.8% 13.5% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling Southern Region 62.4% 12.9% 16.6% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling State

5. Page 55

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6. Page 56

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES56 Key Town Carlow Carlow Town is strategically located in the South-East and has a pivotal inter-regional role with strong links to Midlands and Greater Dublin Area, supported by good access to transport infrastructure. With a 2016 population of 24,272 and total jobs of 7,868 in 2016, Carlow is a regional centre for education, healthcare, public services, shopping and arts, culture, leisure and recreation for a wide area extending into Laois, Kildare and Wicklow.

7. Page 57

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES57 Attributes • Road network Connectivity to Dublin, Waterford via M9 and to the Midlands and South-East via N80 can be developed and augmented • Rail network connectivity to Dublin & Waterford • Strong international connectivity with direct access routes to the Ports of Waterford and Rosslare & Dublin & Waterford Airports • Important regional centre of education and research with IT Carlow (ITC) and St. Patricks College located in the town as well as the Teagasc Agricultural Centre. The ITC will become a campus of the Technological University of the South-East (TUSE) • Diverse employment in pharmaceutical, engineering and finance sectors with notable companies being Merck, UNUM and Netwatch • The strong retail sector in Carlow is an important part of the economic base. • Carlow is an attractive destination for Arts, Culture and Heritage located within Ireland’s Ancient East. Significant investment in the arts and cultural offering of Carlow Town, including development of the Cultural Quarter in Carlow Town in an area around the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Visual Art Gallery, County Museum and Carlow Cathedral • A bilingual County supporting cultural, education and commercial diversity • Recreational Assets of the River Barrow, Oak Park Forest Park & Duckett’s Grove in the Carlow Town Environs • Important role of St. Dympna’s Hospital/ Carlow District Hospital in health provision Key Infrastructural Requirements i. Priority transport infrastructure - enhanced rail services and improved line speeds, town bus services, Kilkenny Road – Wexford N80-R448 (Southern Relief Road), N80 upgrade as a key interregional route and link to Rosslare Europort ii. Strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in rail infrastructure to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to high level to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity iii. Potential location for regional logistics facility to serve the region along the M9 and/or on the Dublin-Waterford rail line. Rail freight handling facilities to support model shift from road to rail iv. Development of an economic quarter on lands around the railway station & improved linkages to/ from Fair Green & Barrack Street within the town centre v. The upgrading and development of water supply and additional investment in wastewater infrastructure to support the economic development and anticipated growth of Carlow map

8. Page 58

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES58 Carlow a. To strengthen and support the role of Carlow Town as a self-sustaining regional and inter-regional economic driver supporting investment in the strategic employment development potential of the town, while promoting and facilitating economic integration between urban centres in the county including Tullow and Muine Bheag (Bagnelstown),, other urban centres within the Southern Region and the Eastern and Midlands Region including the Dublin Metropolitan Area. Subject to the outcome of the planning process and environmental assessments the following are supported: i. To strengthen the regional and interregional role of the Education, Research and Innovation Capacity through development of the Multi-Campus TUSE in the provision of internationally recognised higher education and research opportunities which can facilitate transformational change and act as a key driver and enabler for sustainable future employment growth within Carlow and the Southern Region. ii. To support the town centre led economic regeneration of Carlow, leveraging its strategic location and accessibility on inter-regional road and rail networks building upon its inherent strengths of education, connectivity, skills, innovation, enterprise, tourism, culture/ arts and retail services. iii. To improve the public realm and attractiveness of the Town Centre through development and connectivity of key urban regeneration locations in the town centre with improved accessibility from the historic town centre to the Railway Station and Fair Green iv. To seek investment in water and wastewater infrastructure to facilitate the sustainable development of the town as a regional growth centre. v. To support delivery of the Southern Relief Road N80 – R448 and completion of the Carlow Southern Relief road to link the N80 within County Laois including the provision of an appropriate crossing of the River Barrow & other transport measures with adjoining local/ regional authorities and stakeholders. vi. To seek investment in sustainable transport solutions, improved walking and cycling connectivity routes throughout the town including provision of a town bus service through a Local Transport Plan; vii. To support the delivery of the infrastructural requirements identified for Carlow subject to the outcome of the planning process and environmental assessments viii. To strengthen ‘steady state’ investment in existing rail infrastructure and seek investment for improved infrastructure and services along the Waterford to Dublin line to ensure its continued renewal and maintenance to high level in order to provide quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity including improved frequency and journey times ix. To seek investment and support in the delivery of culture, arts, and tourism infrastructure together with other physical and community infrastructural requirements identified for Carlow town and the wider county area. x. To support development of underused lands along the River Barrow as a strategic natural asset for the town. Any future development of underused lands along the River Barrow or proposals for an additional bridge should be subject to further studies to inform the exact nature and intensity that could be accommodated without giving rise to adverse effects on sensitive Natura 2000 habitats and consider any in combination effects arising from proposals for a bridge. b. To support the preparation of a cross-boundary Joint Urban Area Plan (UAP) for Carlow Town by Carlow County Council and Laois County Council having regard to its location within the combined functional area of both local authorities. i. The Joint UAP provide a coordinated planning framework to identify and deliver strategic sites and regeneration areas for the future physical, economic and social development of Carlow to ensure it achieves targeted compact growth of a minimum of 30% and ensure a co-ordinated approach is taken to the future growth and development of the town to ensure that it has the capacity to grow sustainably and secure investment as a Key Town. The Joint UAP shall identify a boundary for the plan area and strategic housing and employment development areas and infrastructure investment requirements to promote greater co-ordination and sequential delivery of serviced lands for development. Regard shall be had to the respective housing, retail and other strategies that may be in place. The selection of sites for regeneration and expansion should be supported by a quality site selection process and subject to detailed environmental assessment. This could be achieved through a coordinated management plan in collaboration between EMRA, Laois County Council, IFI and NPWS that could address the key issues of visitor pressure, supporting infrastructure pressure and management of the spread of invasive species. ii. The Assembly will foster collaboration in the allocation of funds to support and enable cross boundary collaboration in the Greater Carlow and Graiguecullen Urban Area in the delivery of strategic infrastructure. iii. There shall be consistency of approach on land use terminology across strategies prepared by Carlow County Council and Laois County Council for the cross-boundary Joint Local Area Plan. iv. The distribution of population between the two local authorities should be decided by both local authorities in the joint local area plan. RPO 14

9. Page 59

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   Southern Regional Assembly | RSES59 Education Attainment: All Third Level Mode of Travel to Work Carlow StateSouthern Region 27.9% 33.4% 30.3% 24,272 POPULATION 3.7% UP State 5.4% Carlow 2.9% UPUP Southern Region Population Change 2011 - 2016 Housing Vacancy* *Excluding Holiday Homes StateCarlow Southern Region 8.1% 9.6% 9.1% 7,868 TOTAL JOBS 0.881 Ratio Jobs to Resident Workers 64.7% 3.4% 23% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling Carlow 70% 7.8% 13.5% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling Southern Region 62.4% 12.9% 16.6% Private Transport Public Transport Walking & Cycling State

10. Page 60

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    Southern Regional Assembly | RSES60 Key Town Tralee The Region’s fourth largest urban settlement outside the cities, Tralee balances protection of exceptional natural environment, ecology and heritage with inherent strengths as an administrative capital, a strong performing centre of commerce, education, tourism and high order retail. It is an economic driver on the strategic road network and Atlantic Economic Corridor. It is a key settlement in the Kerry Hub Knowledge Triangle with Killarney and Killorglin. Tralee’s population was 23,691 in 2016, experiencing an approximate 4% growth rate over the previous ten years. The town records over 12,500 jobs, the second highest regionally outside the cities.

Source Southern Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region (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.