The Dublin Region Core Irish Region

The Dublin Region Learning Intention Understand how the physical characteristics of the Dublin region can affect the area and its people, both economically and socially. Analyse the interaction between physical, economic and human processes in the region. Compare and contrast the characteristics of the Dublin region and the West of Ireland.

Today’s Learning..... Identify the region on a map of Ireland. Draw an outline sketch map of Ireland. Show the boundary of the Dublin region on this sketch map. Identify a number of features in the region.

Map Draw an outline sketch map of Ireland. Mark and identify the Dublin region. Locate and mark in; A river in the region A mountain range A main Communication link The main urban centre

Exam Question

Todays Learning Intention Review some general characteristics of the Dublin region Examine the Dublin region’s physical processes Climate Soil Relief Drainage

Core Region It is a focal point/nodal point of the main road and rail networks (with two sea ports and an international port). It is the financial and administrative capital (with the seat of government). Well-drained lowland area with fertile soils and sheltered harbours. High population density – 1 million people In-migration. Attracts industry due to young, educated workforce. It is a quickly growing region.

Physical Processes Climate Soil Relief Drainage

Climate Daylight: the region receives 4 hrs sunshine per day Cool temperate oceanic/maritime Warmer and drier than the Western Region Temperatures: 16 ˚C in the summer and average 5.5˚C in the winter Rainfall: 800 mm of rainfall annually Rainfall is lower than elsewhere in country Rain shadow effect: most precipitation is lost before the Atlantic depressions reach the Dublin region Rain-bearing south-westerly winds have less impact in this region Daylight: the region receives 4 hrs sunshine per day Growing season: is approximately 270 days Coastal location: less frost in spring Crops planted in the Dublin region ripen earlier than crops elsewhere

Soil Brown earths Deep fertile soil - easily cultivated High humus content - deciduous forests covered the region Alluvial deposits- local rivers Blanket bogs- Dublin Mountains

Market Gardening North Dublin Marine, light, sandy soils Free draining Ideal for market gardening/horticulture Growing salad crops in green houses for a nearby urban market

Soils in the Dublin Region

Relief & Drainage Mainly lowland Undulating towards the north and west Good drainage Main rock type-limestone Permeable sedimentary rock -allows water to drain freely Well-drained; River Liffey, Tolka and Dodder

Pair-share.... Climate type? Hours of Sunshine? Temperature range? Days in the growing season? Annual rainfall? Less frost..why? Main soil type? Main rock type? 3 rivers?

Comparison Table Physical Characteristics West of Ireland Dublin Region Climate Soil Relief Drainage

Dublin Region Primary Economic Activities

Agriculture Dublin Region

Agriculture Dublin region is highly productive and commercial Area only has about 1,500 farms,1% of the national total Highly urbanised Farm incomes 40% higher than the national average Lowland Highly mechanised and intensive E.g. -region produces 11% of the national wheat crop and 15% of the national potato crop

Deep, fertile soils High yields of tillage crops e.g. wheat and barley Malting barley is used for the brewing and distilling industry Protein-rich barley is used for animal feed Farming output is high due to demands of a nearby large and wealthy urban market Due to close proximity to Dublin city transport costs are low

Age profile of farmers is lower than in the West Farmers are well educated – use a market orientated and scientific approach Farmers specialise in market gardening – migrant workers from Dublin city are used for labour Cabbage & Onions main crops Farms are constantly under threat from urban sprawl – encouraging farming to be intensive and profitable

Fishing Dublin Region

Fishing Main fishing port -Howth Third largest port in Ireland Value -€5 million Dublin Bay prawns- 40% of total shellfish exported

Challenges... Fishing declining Overfishing-1960s 35% of fish landed in Ireland-caught in Dublin ports 3 % in 2000 Aquaculture limited Irish Sea more polluted than Atlantic Ocean

Exam Question Describe and explain any two physical factors that have influenced the development of agriculture in an Irish region studied by you. (30m)

Comparison Table Primary Economic Activities West of Ireland Dublin Agriculture Fishing

Dublin Region Secondary Economic Activities

Secondary Economic Activities 25% Ireland’s manufacturing industries 40% of people employed in the manufacturing sector are in this region Nodal point: a focus of routeways, rail and air networks EU and worldwide markets Direct governmental involvement during the 1990s resulted in 60% of all new industry developed in Dublin region

Low rate of corporate tax of 12.5% for new industries Modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art telecommunication links and easily accessible industrial estates Abundant well-educated workforce 80% of Ireland’s colleges are located in the region

Low age profile- 45% of population under 25 years of age Industrial output per worker is higher Manufacturing wages 10% higher than the national average People of the Dublin region are generally wealthier, this attracts producers of luxury-based goods Location of the largest financial services sector in the country is in the IFSC in Dublin: businesses can avail of its financial management and business development advice services

Location of Industry Traditional brewing and distilling, e.g. Guinness, and printing, e.g. Irish Independent Modern growth industries of internet technology, e.g. Google, and pharmaceutical, e.g. Pfizer Traditionally located within the city limits because of close proximity to the port and a good supply of local manual labour Newer industries have tended to locate on the outskirts of Dublin city in close proximity to the M50 & Port Tunnel as it is easily accessible Close to a large labour pool in the satellite towns More spacious sites available

Case Study Wyeth/Pfizer Biopharmaceutical in Clondalkin 95 %of people employed in the plant have third level qualifications Employs over 1,000 people Just off the M50 Major contributor to scientific research in Ireland Invested over €640 million in Science Foundation Ireland

Manufacturing is also now widely dispersed 5 of the world’s top 10 software companies located here (Microsoft/Google) Dublin region is highly dependent on foreign investment with over 800 of its companies from overseas and 350 of those US-based companies Dependence on foreign investment is an issue that can worry the Irish government However….

Irish Times; Sat 23rd Feb 2013 Since the beginning of this year, some 27 overseas companies have announced new investments in Dublin involving the creation of more than 2,500 jobs across a variant of knowledge intensive sectors. Among these are household names such as PayPal, LinkedIn, Dell, Symantec, Allianz, Pfizer, Google and Accenture. “Dublin is the engine of growth for foreign direct investment in Ireland,” says IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary. “Internationally, the city continues to become increasingly attractive to overseas investors, with a highly flexible talent pool offering and a strong cluster of world leading companies growing their presence.”

Exam Question Describe and explain the development of secondary economic activities in an Irish region you have studied. (30m) Explain two factors which influence either agriculture or industry in one Irish region studied by you. (30m)

Dublin Region Tertiary Economic Activities

Tourism The region is the main point of entry for visitors to the country Benefited from the removal of Shannon as a stopover point 27 per cent of Irish visitors stay in region Tourism earns €1 billion for the region annually In 2008 over 4 million tourists visited Dublin 90 per cent of all scheduled air flights to Ireland land at Dublin airport A year round business

Main Tourist Attractions Trinity College- Book of Kells Christchurch Cathedral Dublin Castle Four Courts Guinness Storehouse Museums Croke Park

Transport Most efficient transport system in the country Governmental investment under the NDP Dublin port processes 50% of Irish trade Dublin airport is the largest in the country and a major employer; it handled 20.9 million passengers in 2009 Well developed public transport system with Dublin Bus, DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) and the LUAS light rail system Suffers badly from traffic congestion

Transport 90% of all commercial transport is by road In 1997 during peak times traffic speed had been reduced in the city to 14 km per hour Introduced the Transport 21 scheme In 2006 construction of Dublin Port Tunnel Upgrade the M50 Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport opened in 2010

Future Planning… Expansion of the DART lines to double its capacity Expansion of QBCs New Luas lines Metro system A fivefold increase in taxi numbers Government need to introduce a policy of higher density housing along public transport routes This is in line with the European model of cities Urban infill (inner city renewal & regeneration) is also a policy that could be investigated

Exam Question Exam Question Examine the development of tertiary economic activities in an Irish region that you have studied. (30m)

Revision Quiz... Round 1 1.Climate type? 2. Hours of Sunshine? 3. Temperature range? 4. Days in the growing season? 5. Annual rainfall? 6. Less frost..why? 7. Main soil type? 8. Main rock type? 9. 3 rivers? 10. Number of farms?

Revision Quiz...Round 2 1. Length of growing season? 2. Main market gardening crops? 3. Main fishing port? 4. Brewing company? 5. Number employed in Wyeth/Pfizer 6. % in Wyeth/Pfizer with 3rd level qualifications? 7. % of flights landing in Dublin? 8. Book of Kells stored here? 9. Dublin’s light rail system? 10. Year that airport T2 opened?

Dublin Region Human Processes

Population Dynamics Textbook page 267 Note 6 SRP’s

Urban – Rural Development / The Growth of Dublin ‘The boundaries of a city have expanded over time.’ Discuss. Textbook page 268 - 270

Exam Questions Examine the development of one urban area in any Irish region studied by you. (30m) Regions can be defined by many factors including; Economic Human Physical Explain how any one of the above factors has defined an Irish region studied by you. (30m)