Ivor Callely
Ceist:86 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the priority needs which were identified for the Dublin area by the sub-region special advisory working group established in connection with EC Structural Funds.
Written Answers. - Structural Funds.
The National Development Plan, 1989-1993, which was submitted to the EC Commission in March 1989, included a summary of the conclusions of the sub-regional working groups which had been established by the Government to provide a sub-regional input to the plan. The following is the relevant extract from the National Development Plan in relation to Dublin.
Sub-Regional Plans.
Introduction
The following material presents a short summary description of the socio-economic position in each of the seven sub-regions used for consultation and the objectives and strategies identified for each. A breakdown of the planned expenditure over the period 1989-1993 in each of the sub-regions is also presented. The sub-regions are shown on the map on page 87.
SUB-REGION 1: DUBLIN CITY AND COUNTY
1. Socio-economic analysis
1.1Overview
The Dublin City and County sub-region is located on the east coast of Ireland at the western periphery of the European Community. It comprises the County Borough of Dublin, Dublin County and the Municipal Borough of Dún Laoghaire. It is centred on the City of Dublin, the nation's capital and centre of administration, commerce, industry and transport.
Embracing approximately 920 sq. km, the Dublin area is the most densely populated sub-region in the State with a population of 1,021,449 in 1986, 29 per cent of the total population of the State.
The Dublin area is richly endowed with scenic and recreational amenities — the Dublin Mountains, the County Dublin coastline and Dublin Bay, the river Liffey, two canals and the Phoenix Park, which is the most extensive urban park in any city within the European Communities.
1.2Population
Dublin's population expanded from 718,300 in 1961 to 1,021,449 in 1986, an increase of 42 per cent. The increase was rapid between 1966 and 1981 but slower since then. The main growth occurred in Dublin County, particularly in the new suburbs to the South-West, West and North-West of the city. The population of Dublin city declined significantly, particularly in the Inner City.
Dublin had a lower proportion of its population in the 0-14 and 65 plus age groups in 1986 compared with the State as a whole and a higher proportion in the 15-44 age group.
1.3Employment trends
Employment patterns in the Dublin area differ markedly from the rest of the country. Agriculture accounts for less than 1 per cent of employment in the Dublin area, compared with 21 per cent of the rest of the country. Almost 74 per cent of those working in the Dublin area are engaged in service industries compared with 50 per cent in the rest of the country.
The most striking features of the trend in employment in recent years is the decline in industrial employment in Dublin. Between 1981 and 1987 industrial employment fell in Dublin by 29,000 or 26 per cent. Employment in services in Dublin over the same period remained static.
Unemployment is significantly higher than the national average in certain areas of Dublin, such as the North and South inner cities and in some suburban local authority housing estates.
In particular, the combined effects of the growth of the population in the Western suburbs and the relative youth of this population mean that job needs are now and will continue to be proportionately greater there.
The scale of the labour supply problem in Dublin is such that there will have to be a substantial improvement in employment performance to cater for the growth in the labour force and those currently unemployed.
1.4Strength and weaknesses
1.4.1Strengths
—A strong urban structure containing the national capital and largest city in Ireland.
—A youthful labour force, with a versatile range of potential skills supported by extensive educational facilities and a fully integrated structure for the delivery of manpower services.
—A growing number of modern and progressive industrial and commercial establishments, dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises and a fully serviced and immediately available development land bank of some 900 ha.
—An expanding range of commercial, financial and industrial services, including the international financial services centre.
—Dublin is a European capital city with a wealth of historic buildings and areas which are rich in cultural and literary traditions and associations. The Inner City contains significant areas of heritage that represent different phases of Irish cultural history. It also has major recreational and tourism attractions in its natural environment and leisure facilities.
—Dublin Port which is strategically located on the central sea corridor between Ireland and Britain.
—Dublin International Airport which is the premier airport in Ireland and handles 70 per cent of the country's international air traffic.
—Dublin city is located at the hub of Ireland's road network. It is also the hub of Ireland's public transport system (bus/rail) linking the capital city to all parts of the country and via the Irish Sea central corridor to Britain.
1.4.2Weaknesses
—The scale of economic decline in the Dublin area, particularly in the Inner City which is in urgent need of physical revitalisation.
—Major growth of suburban areas especially to the west of Dublin City which has not been matched by the supply of high order facilities and services. These areas have serious multiple economic and social problems and a low level of participation in post-compulsory education, with participation in third-level education and training, in particular, far below the national average.
—High levels of unemployment.
—Need to regenerate the manufacturing base within the area, including the Inner City, where indigenous industry was formerly located.
—Shortage of investment in physical infrastructure including roads, public transport, sanitary services, waste disposal, recreation and tourism facilities.
—Poor intra-urban levels of accessibility, both between the city centre and the outer suburbs, and also between the outer suburbs themselves.
—Lack of port access for ro-ro traffic is contributing to excessive use of the city quays in the city centre by heavy traffic, which contributes to problems of congestion and a deteriorating physical environment.
—Need to upgrade environmental conditions in the Dublin Bay area and to improve air quality in Dublin.
2.Objectives and strategies
2.1 The overall development objective is to promote the economic and social development of the Dublin area in a balanced way, so as to increase economic growth, increase employment levels and reduce the gap with average EC living standards while protecting and improving the environment. The competitiveness of the area must be improved and the productive capacity expanded.
2.2Industry and services
Industrial and services development will be a key feature of the development strategy, building on the existing strengths, promoting new enterprises and regenerating areas affected by industrial decline. Specific measures will be taken to promote the marketing and technological capability of industry. Particular attention will be given to the food, engineering, electronics and clothing industries. The Western suburbs will be specially targeted for development.
2.3Tourism
Dublin has considerable potential for increased tourism. This will be developed with particular regard to the natural, cultural and heritage attractions of the area.
The strategy will be to unify many of the existing attractions into historic and cultural trails and to concentrate further new development along those trails, with the dual effect of developing tourism and aiding inner-city renewal. The development of weather-independent facilities and other tourism products, including water-based facilities, will also be promoted.
2.4Agriculture
Particular attention will be given to the horticulture industry. The over-riding objective is the development of a long term commercially viable industry capable of competing successfully on both domestic and international markets. An Bord Glas will play a lead role in developing the marketing function.
2.5Forestry
A forestry programme will be pursued in the sub-region. This will be reflected in increased afforestation and maintenance of the present forest estate with a view to providing increased employment, raw material for industry and improved recreational facilities.
2.6Infrastructure and environment
A good infrastructure is vital to the sustained and balanced economic development of the sub-region. The objectives and strategy for infrastructure can be broken down into three separate but obviously related segments as follows:
(a) To improve road, bus and rail, telecommunications and postal links within the sub-region and between it and other sub-regions. This objective will be achieved by
—improvement of the national roads in the Dublin area and of the non-national roads which contribute to economic development
—provision of a peripheral ring road to link main national routes and facilitate long distance traffic
—provision of a port access route, which will keep heavy traffic from the Centre City
—improvements in the existing network of public transport services, including the provision of diesel rail commuter services
—improvement in the internal telecommunications network
—the development of modern mail centres and the introduction of automated mail processing systems.
(b) To improve the port, shipping, airport and international telecommunications infrastructure so as to enhance the Dublin area as one of Ireland's main gateways to the rest of Europe. This objective will be achieved by
—continued development of Dublin Port and Airport, including their development as bases for intensive air and sea freight shuttle services to Britain and Continental Europe
—further development of international telecommunication linkages.
(c) To improve other essential facets of the area's economic infrastructure. This objective will be achieved by
—improvement in the structure and competitiveness of the energy supply
—providing adequate sewage systems and water supplies of EC quality standard for industrial, agricultural, tourism and domestic purposes
—providing adequate sewage treatment and waste disposal facilities to enhance the tourism and overall development potential of the area and to protect and enhance the environment
—achieving the reductions required in smoke levels to conform to both national and EC standards
—upgrading the physical environment and the fabric of the Inner City.
2.7Education, skills and training
The level of intellectual and skill attainment is important for the development of the Dublin area. The necessary education and training infrastructure — physical and non-physical — will be provided. Areas of deprivation will be specially targeted and unsatisfactory facilities will be upgraded and rationalised. Effective linkages will be forged between the education/training system and business, industry and tourism to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sub-Region 1: Dublin City and County
Expenditure on structural development included in the Development Plan which will take place in this sub-region 1989-1993.
|
Total Expenditure |
Amount put forward for EC support |
Support sought from EC |
|
|
Transport |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
(i) Roads: National |
190.00 |
170.00 |
121.40 |
|
Non-national |
22.00 |
7.00 |
4.20 |
|
(ii) Rail and Bus |
36.00 |
36.00 |
16.00 |
|
(iii) Access Transport (Sea and air freight, sea ports and airports) |
182.75 |
134.75 |
67.38 |
|
Sanitary and other local services |
53.64 |
43.15 |
21.59 |
|
Telecommunications (including STAR) and Postal Services |
169.33 |
1.40 |
0.77 |
|
Energy (gas, electricity, peat including VALOREN) |
133.60 |
— |
— |
|
Industry |
763.01 |
270.21 |
146.38 |
|
Tourism |
60.20 |
60.20 |
32.30 |
|
Agriculture and Rural Development (including forestry and fishery harbours) |
16.25 |
16.03 |
7.25 |
|
Human Resources: Education, Training and Employment (including vocational training infrastructure) |
601.80 |
594.80 |
329.65 |
|
Total |
2,228.58 |
1,333.54 |
746.92 |