Wicklow County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1 Written Statement

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was established in 2012 in recognition of the economic challenges facing rural Ireland. The subsequent CEDRA Report 2014 – ‘Energising Ireland’s Rural Economy’ recognised that the changing nature of rural areas means that rural economic development is not amenable to single sector strategies but requires new integrated approaches to economic development. The report acknowledges that ‘there is an abundance of natural, physical, human and capital resources and a wide variety of high quality, including dormant assets in many rural communities that could be leveraged to support national economic growth and the development of these communities’. The RSES (Section 6.4) notes that ‘the smaller towns and the rural economy are an important part of the social fabric of the Region’. It acknowledges the need for promotion in rural places of new economic opportunities arising from digital connectivity and indigenous innovation and enterprise as well as more traditional natural and resource assets (e.g. food, energy, tourism), underpinned by the quality of life offering. It further notes that new business formation and innovation in rural areas depend on drivers such as the presence of human capital, proximity and access to higher education institutions, ICT infrastructure including broadband, transport infrastructure and the presence of a wide sectoral mix. 9.1.2 Local Context Wicklow Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides a stronger and clearer role for local government in economic and community development. This process is driven by the provision of the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) which aims to set out, for a six-year period, the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of each local authority, both by itself directly and in partnership with other economic and community development stakeholders. Wicklow LECP was adopted in 2016, and includes objectives and actions promoting and supporting economic development and the local and community development of the County. The LECP identifies 10 overarching goals for economic and community development within County Wicklow. With regard to economic development the following goals are relevant: LECP Goals Goal 6 Develop infrastructure and measures that are positive and supportive to investment, enterprise, innovation and knowledge creation in strategic locations. Goal 7 Sustain existing enterprise and develop quality employment and income opportunities for the wide range of employment needs in the County, with possibilities for reversing commuting patterns. Goal 8 Capitalise on Wicklow’s unique attributes and proximity to the Dublin market, excellent quality of life, human capital, tourism, landscape, marine, agricultural and forestry resources. Goal 9 Support a shift towards low carbon and climate change resilient economic activity, reducing energy dependence, promoting the sustainable use of resources and leading in the Smart Green Economy. Goal 10 Harness efficiently the full resources of the County and promote interagency collaboration. With regard to economic development and opportunity the LECP identified a number of objectives as follows: LECP Economic Objectives 7.1 Stimulate and support the development and expansion of micro-enterprises and SMEs facilitating the growth of economic activities, development of innovative sectors, promotion of business engagement and the creation of new employment opportunities, decent jobs and sustainable, meaningful livelihoods. 5.2 Develop training and education programmes based on alignment of employer needs / employment trends.203

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development 6.1 Support inward investment and promote the creation and expansion of new and existing employment opportunities in the County to drive economic development within the County. 6.2 Support and develop the Wicklow County Campus to allow it to reach its full potential as a centre of learning and innovation in the County. 6.3 Support the provision of high quality infrastructure throughout the County that will facilitate and support economic expansion. 6.4 Enhance the attractiveness of town centres and retail premises across the County. 7.2 Harness the County’s existing assets and encourage collaborative opportunities and business engagement amongst sectors to develop new markets and initiatives, maximising opportunities for business development and employment creation. 8.1 Promote and direct the tourism development of the County in a sustainable manner that conserves, promotes, protects and enhances the County’s natural, built and cultural heritage and derives optimal economic benefit from visitors to the County. 8.2 Capitalise on the immediate and future economic opportunity in the Film and Television Industry and support the expansion of the sector in the County. 8.3 Realise the potential benefits of the County's maritime assets. 8.4 Support the rural economy and promote rural economic diversification. 8.5 Maximise the economic development in the County through improved and strategic branding and marketing. 9.1 Support the development of renewable energy and a low energy future for Wicklow. The implementation of the objectives of the LECP and higher order national and regional economic strategies is ongoing, with particular focus on key sectors including film the maritime sector, the food industry and tourism. The role of the County Development Plan is not to duplicate the LECP (which has a much wider remit in the area of economic development), but rather to provide the land-use framework that will support the achievements of these goals and objectives. 9.2 Analysis of Employment Trends in County Wicklow An overview of Wicklow’s economic profile is set out in Chapter 2. The updated socio-economic analysis carried out as part of the LECP process found that County Wicklow’s industrial profile correlates, in spatial terms, with its occupational profile. Furthermore, the County’s economic geography also correlates with its socio-economic profile. The northeast of the County, and in particular the Greystones MD, has a higher proportion of resident workers, who are employed in professional occupations and who, by extension, belong to the higher socio-economic groups. In contrast, the south and west of the County – in both urban and rural communities – have higher proportions of persons who are in manual occupations and who belong to the lower socio-economic groups. The data highlights the importance of promoting economic diversification in these parts of County Wicklow, in tandem with socially oriented interventions – supporting integrated human capital and economic development. Employment growth has not been commensurate with population growth in many towns throughout the County. Census 2016 revealed that almost 40% of the County’s working population (23,451) are travelling outside the County for work. Of these 19,008 are travelling to Dublin city and suburbs for work1. The north of the County has high levels (>50% in most EDs) of commuting to the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and commuting to the GDA is manifestly more significant than travel to any other destination. Proximity to the GDA shapes the socio-economic 1 https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp6ci/p6cii/p6www/204

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development profile of much of North Wicklow, particularly Greystones and its wider environs. The M11 from Bray to Wicklow – Rathnew and the N81 from Tallaght to Blessington are very significant transport and economic corridors. Movement along both corridors is predominantly by private modes of transport, thus posing challenges for County Wicklow in respect of environmental degradation and energy security. Long-distance commuting also affects communities, as County Wicklow responds to spillover effects from the GDA, particularly in respect of housing. There are also quality-of-life considerations for commuters and their families. Census 2016 – Commuting in County Wicklow  Nearly 6,300 workers travelled from Bray to work in Dublin city and suburbs. 60% travelled by car, 20% took the train and 10% used the bus. The average travel time of these commuters was 41 minutes and the average age was 41 years.  Nearly half of Greystones workers commuted to Dublin city and suburbs and 25% of them travelled by train, 66% travelled by car. Three quarters of these workers left before 8am and their average travel time was 50 minutes.  Almost 4 in 5 of Wicklow town's commuters to Dublin city and suburbs travelled by car. Almost 30% of these left for work between 6:30 and 7am. Their average travel time was 58 minutes.  In Blessington, 84% of commuters into Dublin city and suburbs travelled by car. Half of these left for work before 7:30 am and the average journey time was 45 minutes. Source: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cp6ci/p6cii/p6www/ The Council commissioned the County Wicklow Commuter Study in 20192. The Study found that County Wicklow commuters at work are highly educated with 53% holding a third-level or higher qualification, compared to 52% for the State. They are also over-represented in the construction, information, communications & finance industries, with 27% of commuters travelling to work in these industries compared with 24% for the state. 37% of those who completed the commuter survey were working in the business or financial sector. The survey carried out as part of the study revealed that 70% of commuters who work outside County Wicklow indicated that they would be likely or very likely to consider switching to a job in County Wicklow if one were available and 33% said that they would be likely or very likely to consider a lower salary if it meant they could work in County Wicklow. Census 2016 was the first census for which data on the ‘daytime population’ of areas was published. The daytime population includes everybody who indicated they worked or studied in the area, along with persons in that area who do not work or study (and so are there during the day). Wicklow’s daytime population was 123,125 persons which was significantly lower than the night time population of 142,425. This highlights the high number of people that leave the County for work or education during the day. This data can be mapped at an ED (electoral district) level, as shown below, which provides a clear spatial picture of locations where daytime population is lower or higher than night-time population. This data may assist in identifying locations where existing high levels of daytime employment should be supported and enhanced, as well as locations where the focus should be the development of new employment opportunities, linked to the overall Core Strategy. The data indicates that the key town of Bray and many other settlements are under performing in terms of employment opportunities for residents leading to unsustainable commuting patterns. By undertaking an analysis of the Census 2016 database it is possible to develop a profile of both the number of resident workers and the actual number of local jobs (known location and excludes mobile workers and blank destinations) in all areas. The NPF and EMRA RSES used this approach to identify the ratio of resident workers to 2 https://www.wicklow.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Business/Business-Environment/Wicklow-Facts-Figures/Commuter%20Study%20Report.pdf205

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   loc Th be set no Fig 3 T Co 4 ht 5 ht cal jobs. Acco is gives a rat low the regi ttlements an tes that a rat gure 9.1 he ‘jobs ratio’ unty. ttps://emra.ie/ ttps://www.cso ording to Ce tio of 0.55. T onal average d improve q tio of 0.7 plu Workplace is the ratio be /dubh/wp-con o.ie/en/releas ensus 2016, t This compare e which is 0. uality of life, us indicates a e Zones5 etween the nu ntent/uploads esandpublicat there are 58, es very posit 63. In accord it is the aim a strong econ umber of jobs /2019/06/App tions/ep/p-cp1 247 resident tively with th dance with n m of Council t nomic functio in the County pendices-EMR 11eoi/cp11eo Wicklo t workers in he 2011 jobs national and to increase th on.4 y to the numb RA-RSES.pdf i/dtpn/ ow County De Chapter County Wick ratio which regional pol he ‘Jobs Ratio er of people i evelopment r 9 | Econom klow relative was 0.42. H licy to create o’3 to 0.7 by n the workfor Plan 2022-20 ic Developm to 32,551 jo owever it is e self-sustain 2031. The R rce resident in 028 ment obs. still ning SES the206

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development 9.3 The Role of Land Use Planning in Economic Development (i) To set out a spatial planning framework for economic development. Through the policies and objectives, the County Development Plan outlines the appropriate locations for economic development. The objectives for economic development must sit within the overall planning framework (Core Strategy and Settlement Strategy) set out in Chapters 3 and 4 and must be consistent with the NPF and RSES. Table 9.2 to follow sets out the economic hierarchy, detailing the function and type of economic activity that will be promoted and facilitated at each level in the settlement hierarchy. The larger towns of the County clearly have the most potential to deliver larger scale and a wider range of employment developments and these locations should act as the key economic drivers within the County, with smaller towns and villages focusing on the micro/local economy. Enablers of enterprise development include availability of human capital, proximity to a third level institution, transport infrastructure, broadband infrastructure and a diverse local sectoral mix. The RSES identifies Bray and Wicklow – Rathnew as ‘key towns’ in the region. In accordance with RPO 4.27, ‘Key Towns shall act as economic drivers and provide for strategic employment locations to improve their economic base by increasing the ratio of jobs to workers’. Relevant Regional Policy Objectives for Economic Development in Wicklow’s Key Towns RPO 4.37 Support the continued development of Bray including the enhancement of town centre functions, development of major schemes at the former Bray golf course and Bray harbour, along with increased employment opportunities and co-ordination between Wicklow County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, and the transport agencies to facilitate the delivery of key infrastructure required for the westward extension of the town, including Bray-Fassaroe public transport links and road improvements. RPO 4.38 Support the development of Bray as a strategic employment location with a particular focus on attracting high value investment in ‘people’ based industries at accessible locations, in order to increase the number of local jobs. RPO 4.39 To promote the consolidation of Bray town centre with a focus on placemaking and the regeneration of strategic sites to provide for enhanced town centre functions and public realm, in order to increase Bray’s attractiveness as a place to live, work, visit and invest in. RPO 4.40 To support ongoing investment in public transport infrastructure in Bray, including the appraisal, planning and design of the LUAS extension to Bray. The development of Bray-Fassaroe should be undertaken in collaboration between Wicklow County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the transport agencies to ensure the delivery of enabling transportation infrastructure and services. RPO 4.54 Support an enhanced role and function of Wicklow-Rathnew as the County Town, particularly as a hub for employment, training and education. RPO 4.55 Support Wicklow-Rathnew’s role in the provision of third level education at the Wicklow County Campus Rathnew (in association with Institute of Technology Carlow) and in particular, to support the development of the campus as a hub for the Film Industry and Screen Content Creation Sector. RPO 4.56 Support enhancement and expansion of Wicklow Port and Harbour, to expand commercial berthing and pleasure craft capacity subject to a feasibility study with particular focus on avoiding adverse impacts on the integrity of adjacent European Sites. RPO 4.57 Support the development of Wicklow-Rathnew as a tourism hub having regard to its accessibility to key tourist destinations in the Region. The RSES identifies guiding principles to identify locations for strategic employment development. In this regard the following locations are considered appropriate for strategic employment development – Bray, Wicklow- Rathnew, Arklow, Greystones and Blessington.207

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development Guiding Principles to Identify Locations for Strategic Employment Development Planning to accommodate strategic employment growth at regional, metropolitan and local level should include consideration of:  Location of Technology and Innovation Poles - Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Universities, as key strategic sites for high-potential growth of economic activity.  Current employment location, density of workers, land-take and resource/infrastructure dependency, including town centres, business parks, industrial estates and significant single enterprises.  Locations for expansion of existing enterprises.  Locations for new enterprises, based on the extent to which they are people intensive (i.e. employees/customers), space extensive (i.e. land), tied to resources, dependent on the availability of different types of infrastructure (e.g. telecoms, power, water, roads, airport, port etc.) or dependent on skills availability.  Locations for potential relocation of enterprises that may be better suited to alternative locations and where such a move, if facilitated, would release urban land for more efficient purposes that would be of benefit to the regeneration and development of the urban area as a whole, particularly in metropolitan areas and large towns.  Within large urban areas where significant job location can be catered for through infrastructure servicing and proximity to public transport corridors. Source: EMRA RSES (ii) Ensuring an adequate supply of zoned and serviced land for employment In accordance with national and regional policy the focus of all new development including economic development should be on regeneration and redevelopment of brownfield lands and infill sites within or adjacent to the town centres. Additional greenfield lands will also be zoned, where deemed necessary, in town plans and local area plans to facilitate economic growth that cannot be accommodated on town centre sites or within the existing built up area. The amount of land to be zoned will be determined on a case by case basis having regard to the particular characteristics of a settlement, the need for new employment opportunities and the availability of brownfield lands or infill sites. a) Determination of appropriate amount of zoned employment land It is the aim of the Council to increase the ‘Jobs Ratio’6 to c. 70% by 2031. The ‘jobs ratio’ target for each settlement will be calculated having regard to the existing jobs ratio and the position of the town in the settlement hierarchy. On the basis of that target, the target number of new jobs will be derived, having regard to the overall population target for that town / area. In accordance with sustainable planning principles, the priority location for new jobs growth shall be the existing town centres and existing developed lands (such as brownfield lands). In circumstances where the total jobs growth cannot be met within the existing town centre / brownfield lands or where certain uses are not suitable to locate in existing built up areas, this growth will be targeted to occur in ‘greenfield’ locations. The amount of undeveloped ‘greenfield’ land zoned for employment use in any settlement shall be determined on a case by case basis, having regard to the particular characteristics of the settlement and the strategy for job creation, and shall include an assessment of the likely employment type and density that would be suitable at each location. 6 The ‘jobs ratio’ is the ratio between the number of jobs in the County to the number of people in the workforce resident in the County.208

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development b) Land use zoning principles New employment development shall be required to locate on suitably zoned / designated land in settlements. The priority for new employment development shall be in the designated ‘town’ and ‘village’ / ‘neighbourhood centres’ or ‘primary zone’ in settlements with development plans, or in the historic centre of villages, through densification of the existing built up area, re-use of derelict or brownfield sites, infill and backland development. In doing so, particular cognisance must be taken on respecting the existing built fabric and residential amenities enjoyed by existing residents, and maintaining existing parks and other open areas within settlements. In acknowledgement of the challenges presented by such sites, and taking into account that certain employment types, such as large scale manufacturing facilities, may require large sites and separation from residential areas, new employment development shall also be permitted on greenfield lands that are zoned / designated for employment. The zoning / designation of greenfield land for new employment shall adhere to the following principles:  application of the ‘sequential approach’ whereby zoning extends outwards from centres, contiguous to the existing built up part of the settlement;  promotion of a sustainable land use and transportation pattern, whereby ‘people intensive’ employment forms are located close to public transport routes (mostly relevant to larger towns such as Bray and Greystones), in centres and mixed use areas or within easy accessibility of residential areas, whereas ‘goods based’ employment types shall have good access to road transport corridors;  lands already or easily serviced by appropriate standard of roads, a gravity fed water supply and waste water collection system;  cognisance will be taken of the need to provide upmost protection to the environment and heritage, particularly of designated sites, features and buildings; and  the need to maintain the rural greenbelt between towns. The development of zoned / designated land should generally be phased in accordance with the sequential approach:  Development should extend outwards from centres with undeveloped land closest to the centres and public transport routes being given preference, i.e. ‘leapfrogging’ to peripheral areas shall be discouraged;  a strong emphasis should be placed on encouraging infill opportunities and better use of under-utilised lands; and  areas to be developed should be contiguous to existing developed areas. Only in exceptional circumstances should the above principles be contravened, for example, where a barrier to development is involved. Any exceptions must be clearly justified by local circumstances and such justification must be set out in any planning application proposal. (iii) Resilient Town Centres and Retail Development It is no longer feasible to rely solely on retail as the economic focus of town centres. There is significant potential in Wicklow to expand the role of towns and villages and to develop as enterprise hubs, becoming viable and attractive alternatives to major employment centres (refer to Chapter 5). These smaller settlements have a comparative advantage to the large cities in terms of lower costs. Wicklow boasts a highly skilled workforce and this is a significant asset for towns and villages particularly in terms of making them attractive to new employers. Technological advances are making it easier to work remotely. There is potential to greatly expand the provision of shared / remote working hubs.209

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development The retail strategy for County Wicklow is set out in Chapter 10 of this plan. Town Centres will continue to be the primary location for retail development. The development and expansion of town centres/core areas within local area/town and settlement plans facilitates the achievement of a strong retail sector which in turn supports local employment. Where feasible all local area/town or settlement plans will identify key opportunity sites capable of achieving the objectives of the retail strategy. The development and expansion of these areas will be supported wherever possible, as this is viewed as key to supporting local job growth within each designated settlement. (iv) Promoting and facilitating an overall improvement in the quality of life in all parts of the County Making a place attractive for both employers and employees as a place to live, work and do business is fundamental to attracting new employers to the County. Specific actions to improve quality of life include:  Promoting and facilitating high quality residential development with supporting social and community facilities;  Ensuring town centres are vibrant with high quality public realm and a good range of retail and retail services;  Creating an attractive urban and rural environment to facilitate residency and recreational needs of the projected labour force; and  Increasing and improving the range of quality recreational, amenity and cultural facilities. Within the settlements situated within Levels 1-6 of the Employment Hierarchy (Table 9.2) Local Area and Town Plans shall address the above actions in a targeted manner capable of maximising the individual assets and potential of each of these areas. (v) Supporting education facilities and the knowledge economy The promotion and facilitation of educational facilities, in particular third level and further educational facilities, is recognised as a key catalyst for future economic activity within the County. The presence of Wicklow County Campus at Clermont House, Rathnew offers significant opportunities for the development of a centre of excellence for higher education and research, capable of establishing partnerships with wider industry, creating jobs, addressing social challenges and driving economic growth within the County. The objectives of this plan promote and facilitate the future development of further education throughout the County with a particular focus on the future development of the Wicklow County Campus. The Council will support and encourage opportunities to strengthen links with third level institutions and investigate opportunities in relation to climate change, biodiversity and developing a carbon neutral economy. (vi) Facilitating and promoting entrepreneurial activity Wicklow has a higher percentage of professionals (8.6%) than the state average (8.1%). Wicklow also has a higher proportion of managerial and technical professionals (31.8%), which is higher than the average for the State (28.1%) and the Eastern and Midland region (29.8%). The number of persons educated to third level or higher in Wicklow is also slightly higher than the national average7. The data suggests that County Wicklow residents have the skills, abilities and education to run businesses, to establish new enterprises and to be innovators and entrepreneurs, but they are for the most part not doing so in the County. A key challenge will be to put in place an environment and a framework that encourages Wicklow residents to establish businesses in the County and in particular within the County’s identified key urban centres. 7 Census of Population, 2016210

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   Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development Entrepreneurial activity will be supported and facilitated wherever possible, for example, by facilitating developments / applications engaged in training and education, and business start-up and incubator facilities. Supporting small scale, start-up developments in rural areas, town / village centres and in suitable residential areas, will be supported wherever possible, as this is seen as key stepping stone to the development of a larger enterprise. The Council will support and facilitate the development of Tech Hubs. These are co-working spaces that provide desk and office space, a co-working community, and the supports and networks that technology entrepreneurs and businesses need to start, internationalise, and grow their business. It is an objective of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Department of Rural and Community Development to build a network of innovative co-working spaces in the Mid East. (vii) Supporting employment growth around Wicklow’s natural resources The role the rural economy can play in fuelling the economic recovery is recognised and it is acknowledged that there are certain scenarios where it is practical and sustainable to facilitate the provision of rural orientated enterprises in the open countryside. In this regard the objectives for the rural economy set out in this plan are focused on addressing the challenges and facilitating new opportunities. The objectives will aim to support existing resource based industries, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, food and the extractive industry, while also promoting the diversification of the rural economy. In addition, the natural and man-made assets of Wicklow create significant opportunities for the expansion of the tourist and recreational sectors. While these areas already make a significant contribution to the County’s economy, further opportunities exist to increase this offering. The objectives set out in Chapter 11 of this plan aim to facilitate the expansion and further development of this sector over the lifetime of the plan in a sustainable manner. (viii) Supporting key sectors for growth Through the research and analysis undertaken for the LECP and the data gathered by Census 2016, it is clear that certain sectors / industries have great potential in County Wicklow, above other locations. While this plan will support the development of all sectors/industries within the County subject to normal planning criteria, the following key sectors have been identified, with this plan setting out particular policy supports for the future growth of these areas. The key sectors identified within the County include: Film Industry  Wicklow is an important centre for film making, based largely on the presence of Ardmore Studios in Bray and Ashford Studios located on the outskirts of the town of Ashford. The industry contributes significantly to direct and indirect employment and also contributes to the international image of the County. The RSES (RPO 6.9) supports the development of the Mid-East as a hub for the Screen Content Creation Sector. It is envisaged that the development of the film industry cluster will enable the County to realise the potential value from film making directly, plus film tourism, accommodation services and other support services. Food Sector  Within Wicklow there is an established cluster of artisan / SME Food processing companies, estimated to be in excess of 50 companies, with potential for growth. In addition there is vibrant food service industry in the County, many being customers of the artisan segment. There is potential to develop a food incubation hub in the County. Such a development would provide a unique environment for food companies, greatly enhancing their research and innovation capacity and ability to innovate.  ‘Wicklow Naturally’ was launched in 2019. It has been created as part of the ongoing211

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    Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 Chapter 9 | Economic Development implementation of the Wicklow Food and Beverage Strategy, will champion local producers, their products and the businesses which sell and serve those products. It also aims to boost tourism by highlighting Wicklow as a leading “foodie” destination in Ireland’s Ancient East. Bioeconomy  The bioeconomy uses renewable, biological resources sourced sustainably from land and sea such as crops, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, micro-organisms and animals and converts these resources and waste streams into value-added bio-based products including proteins, feeds, fertilizers, plastics and energy. The National Planning Framework highlights the potential of the bioeconomy in terms of Ireland's future economic and environmental wellbeing. Ireland has numerous renewable biological resources with the potential for the creation of high value products. These include agricultural products and by-products, food residues and processing side streams, forestry and forestry by-products, municipal and industrial waste, waste water and marine and marine by-product resources. Our largest indigenous industry, the agri-food sector, provides significant co-processing streams in the food and beverage industries. In terms of marine resources, Ireland has rich resources in one of the largest sea beds in Europe (10 times our landmass).  The National Bioeconomy Forum was launched in October 2020 to promote, support and advocate for the sustainable development of the bioeconomy in Ireland. The bioeconomy has the potential to create new, sustainable opportunities for farmers and high-quality, green jobs in rural and coastal areas. It can play a significant role in meeting our climate change targets.  The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy was published in March 2018. It sets out a framework to strengthen the bioeconomy in Ireland. There is significant potential to expand the bioeconomy in County Wicklow. Tourism & recreation  Tourism and recreation make a positive contribution to the economic and social wellbeing of County Wicklow. In 2016, there were 272,000 overseas visitors to Wicklow who spent €86 million. There were 329,000 domestic visitors who spent €71 million8. This represents 33% of the domestic nights spent in the East and Midlands region and 4% of the total nights in Ireland, which compares well with Wicklow’s 23% (regional) and 3% (national) share of the bed stock.  The County’s tourism and recreational attractions are important assets, which form the basis of the County’s tourism industry and which are fundamental to the enjoyment of the County by both visitors and residents. Attractions range from areas of scenic beauty, which provide attractive natural bases for outdoor pursuits, such as the Wicklow Mountains, which comprise mountain peaks, valleys, rivers and lakes, the coastline with long stretches of sandy beaches and dunes and the numerous woodlands. The County has a rich heritage of archaeological and historical sites, manor homes and gardens, and attractive towns and villages. In addition, there are a number of golf and resort hotels, and adventure centres, which are within driving distance of Dublin that are attracting increasing numbers of visitors and business related events. Maritime  The marine economy is a key enabler of effective economic growth. The maritime sector in Wicklow benefits from a host of assets and activities capable of expansion and development including: shore-side services, shipping services, repair and maintenance, fishing, tourism and leisure, servicing of the off-shore renewable energy industry, maritime financial services etc. Established ocean and coastal economic sectors include seafood related enterprise, such as commercial fishing and aquaculture, products of marine biotechnology and bio-discovery, marine tourism, energy exploration and production, maritime transport, shipbuilding and ship leasing. Wicklow County Council supports the identification and realisation of the economic opportunities within this sector.  Off-shore wind energy is a significant opportunity area for the County. The County has 8 Wicklow Tourism Strategy & Marketing Plan212

Source Wicklow County Council: Wicklow County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume 1 Written Statement (2022–2028) · 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.