I thank the joint committee for the opportunity to make a presentation. The metro north economic corridor is an example of integrated land use and transportation, which is an important principle on which to build integrated strategies for the country. When Fingal County Council started promoting the metro north idea, we described it as "A Path to the Future". I will briefly summarise the main points of the Indecon report on the economic development strategy for the metro north economic corridor, which has been circulated. We will then show a short DVD, although the Chairman may wish to cut short that part of the presentation. I am more than willing to explain any issue that arises at any point in our contribution.
Competition between city regions has increased as competition among countries has declined. For example, the Dutch have made great efforts to develop what they call the "delta metropolis". Instead of expanding Amsterdam, they decided to develop and strongly link four or five main cities, including Utrecht, Haarlem and Leiden. The most significant feature of this development is that public transport is the core link between the cities in question. It is this that makes the idea work, for example, it takes only 20 minutes to travel between the various cities in the "metropolis".
The same approach is visible in the case of co-operation between Sweden and Denmark. Members may be familiar with the city of Malmö, which lies on the other side of the Öresund Strait from Copenhagen. The two cities have been linked since the opening of the Öresund Bridge which joins the two countries. This key investment by the Governments of Denmark and Sweden shows a strong vision.
Dublin Airport, which is at the centre of the metro north economic corridor, is an engine for growth, accounting for at least 12,000 jobs. Employment at the airport is likely to double when the second terminal opens and other projects such as the second runway are completed, if and when that takes place. Infrastructure investment in the area is vital.
In examining this issue Fingal County Council sought to ensure we would not waste the opportunity presented by the Government's decision to invest in Transport 21 and metro north by putting infrastructure in the wrong place. The temptation to act quickly makes coherent planning especially important.
The Indecon report prepared for Fingal County Council was viewed by Indecon as a welcome opportunity to present an economic development strategy for the whole corridor. The strategy is based on detailed research, into which I will give a little insight in a moment. The border between the Fingal County Council and Dublin city area occurs at Ballymun. Immediately north of the Northwood stop at Ballymun and Santry is the M50, followed by metro park, the airport and the town of Swords, which has a population of 46,000 people. North of the town is the metro terminus and the park and ride facility. Lissenhall, located just south of the park and ride, is a major land development area where new expansion can take place.
On population change comparisons, the population change in the metro north economic corridor and other areas has been extraordinary. Between 2002 and 2006 the population of the State increased by 8%, whereas population growth in the corridor was 32%. The overall population of Fingal increased by 22% over the same period, whereas the population of Dublin city increased by just 2%. The metro north economic area is clearly in a position to grow for the city region.
On age distribution, members will note that a comparison of the census figures from 2002 and 2006 shows that the average age in the economic corridor is decreasing. We have a young population and a study carried out by Fingal County Council showed the current population trend is likely to continue until at least 2030. That will be driven by the age profile of the workforce.
Who lives in the metro economic corridor and where do they work? The study showed that 73% of residents travel to work outside the area. We have, therefore, a reserve of people who could be put to work in the immediate area. Figures on the number of employees in the area by residence, in other words, where people are located, show that most employees live elsewhere in Fingal. The next largest group is natives of the metro economic corridor. The study also found that 25% of those who work in the corridor are residents of Dublin city. This figure is important from the perspective of public transport as it demonstrates potential for reverse commuting, a trend that lends itself to strong, sustainable public transport.
The area's key strengths include the high employment rate. Approximately 70% of the population aged 15 years and over is at work. Members may have noted figures last year which showed that nationwide Swords had the highest percentage of available population in employment. The area's dependency rate is, therefore, low because virtually everyone is earning a living. A large proportion of the population is aged between 25 to 44 years, which is the family forming age group. In addition, the area has a labour skills pool and Dublin Airport is located within it. The area's proximity to the airport, Dublin city and major sea ports provides access to markets. As regards sea ports, members will be aware of a proposal to develop a port at Bremore.
The existing base of firms in the area includes significant companies. Recently, for example, Kelloggs decided to base its international network for Europe in the immediate vicinity of Dublin Airport. We plan to increase the population from its current level to a critical mass of almost 120,000.
As regards access to major third and fourth level institutions, Dublin City University is in the catchment area, while Blanchardstown Institute of Technology is not far away. I will not blow our trumpet too hard on the issue of quality of life, other than to note that the sea coast and the large green area of Fingal is a definite advantage.
The metro north economic corridor is not a short-term plan of two to five years but a 20 to 30-year vision which aims to increase employment in the corridor by 37%. How is this figure constituted? We intend to maximise employment within the corridor, focusing on the key areas of high value industry and internationally traded services. We want to have fourth level graduates in the area because they can commute easily to other places and move in and out of the area quickly to deal with their colleagues in foreign countries.
Other objectives include to rapidly expand the skilled local population and establish a carbon neutral city region, both of which are central to our plans. Where will additional employment be generated? As we all know, industry is diminishing so the sectors in which expansion will happen is between market services and international jobs. Within that, the core third level, fourth generation people are those with whom we want to deal.
The strategy is to target an increase in population to 128,000. Most of the increase in population should be in the Swords area itself. The development strategy should facilitate 37,000 additional jobs. We are not talking about making a dormitory town for Dublin. This is an economic area that would be primarily driven by the economic growth of the place. We will make sure the planning regulations do not allow the area to be populated completely with residential zones. We will put planning controls in place to ensure that development will happen with economic development not with housing. The strategy should attract a range of high-tech employment.
Indecon recommended that Fingal County Council should support proposals for a university campus in the metro north economic corridor area. Two third level institutions have expressed a keen interest in moving part or all of their campuses to the area. The talks are currently at a delicate stage but it is very encouraging to be met by open doors when one approaches people. Indecon also recommended measures to facilitate the establishment of a hospital. Members are aware that the construction of hospitals has changed from how things operated in the past. We must attract people who are prepared to invest in such a facility. People have expressed an interest in talking to us about this already. We will see the big development sites of Swords-Lissenhall, Dublin Airport eastlands and metropark towards the end of the presentation.
Indecon recommended the strategy should be driven by the council with the co-operation of public and private partners. It stated that investment in supporting infrastructure to accommodate the expansion must be implemented. It is vital that we put the infrastructure in place. The targeting of the economic corridor by the development agencies is essential. A skills strategy should be prepared to support the economic strategy. We already carry out a business skills survey every two years. We talk to all the businesses in our area and ask them what skills they need. We give that information to the universities and the third level institutions.
Development contributions and other charges should be designed to attract high-skilled employment. If we can modify these contributions in any way to target certain kinds of employment we will do that. We will continue to talk to Government about how we might tweak the development contributions system, which is quite simplistic at the moment. We are reviewing it to see what we can do. The contributions are for things we have to do, so we need to charge them. However, we will try to find other ways to be more creative about how we structure the charges. It goes without saying that new developments in the corridor should meet best international practice. The coastline and Malahide Estuary, which is immediately beside us, are magnificent. The estuary has been designated under the habitats directive. We must look after it to the highest international standards. It is a huge asset for the people who might want to work and live there.
Higher densities for selected areas are required. Members will gain an insight into that in a moment when they see the DVD. Consideration should be given to special planning approaches. That implies the use of SDZs for example. We are always open to methods that might help people to bring forward ideas. We would very much like to see such ideas given a little more strength, as proposed under the Kenny report. I know all political parties favour that approach. If there is something we can do in that regard to help expedite development, we will do it.
Targeted marketing is needed to promote the corridor. The presentation that follows is just the beginning of that kind of targeting. We want to show how such targeted marketing could work to promote the corridor abroad.
The conclusions from Indecon are that the metro north economic corridor can be an internationally significant investment location. We have seen a number of those. There is one in Stockholm called Kista, which has 120,000 residents, 65,000 employees, internationally competitive advantage through the technological infrastructure system, and a university is located immediately beside it. The Centennial Campus in North Carolina is another example we would like to follow. The corridor can contribute significantly to the future economic development of Ireland. It is important to say this is not just about Dublin; this is about the Dublin city region. I am not flying only a Fingal flag here. I am talking about promoting the Dublin city region, which is competing with city regions in the rest of the world and that will bring economic strength to the country not just to Dublin. The effective development of the corridor is key to maximising value for money on the metro north rail link.
The strategy was launched in May 2008. It supports the prioritisation of metro north. The strategy has the support of national and local development agencies. The Dublin Airport Authority plans to develop an airport city, with which I know the committee is familiar. We have hard and soft copies of the strategic vision, Your Swords — an Emerging City, if members wish to take them. A strategic implementation group is being set up.
I will show a short DVD that will give members an idea of the kind of international marketing we have in mind. This is the first cut so things will change slightly as we go on. We can add to it as much as we wish.
The joint committee viewed a DVD presentation.
