1. Southern Regional Assembly
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES)
Context, Content & Process
Stephen Blair
Director

2. National Policy Context – Project Ireland 2040

3. Project Ireland 2040
On the 16th February 2018 the Government launched what it has called Project Ireland 2040
This combines the National Planning Framework (NPF) with the 10 year capital National Development Plan (NDP)
This is the first time in the history of the State that there has been full integration between spatial planning and capital programming.
Project Ireland 2040 represents a whole of government approach to long term planning for an expanding population and a growing economy.

4. Key Factors Influencing Content & Shape of NPF/NDP
PIMA IMF, Legacy issues

5. National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027
Core inter-dependent themes:
Wellbeing, Equality and Opportunity
A 10 year €115 billion programme to upgrade the State’s infrastructure in anticipation of the population increase.
Some €90 billion of the plan will come from taxpayers with the remainder expected from commercial State-owned enterprises.
The plan is further expected to leverage private equity.

6. National Planning Framework - Key Objectives
Framework to guide the future development of Ireland, taking into account a projected 1 million increase in our population, the need to create 660,000 additional jobs to achieve full employment and a need for 550,000 more homes by 2040;
25% is planned for Dublin, recognised as our key international and global city of scale and principal economic driver,
25% across the other four cities combined (Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford), enabling all four to grow their population and jobs by 50-60%, and become cities of greater scale,
with the remaining 50% of growth to occur in key regional centres, towns, villages and rural areas, to be determined in the forthcoming regional plans – Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs).
Enable people to live closer to where they work, moving away from the current unsustainable trends of increased commuting;
Regenerate rural Ireland by promoting environmentally sustainable growth patterns;
Co-ordinate delivery of infrastructure and services in tandem with growth, through joined-up NPF/National Investment Plan and consistent sectoral plans.

7. Principal Functions of Regional Assemblies
Responsibilities include:

8. Statutory Planning Functions
Review of Regional Planning Guidelines and preparation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region.
Statutory observations on local authority development plans and variations.
To promote effectiveness in local government in conjunction with National Oversight & Audit Commission.
Role in preparation and making of the Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPS)

9. What is a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES)?
Each Regional Assembly has to prepare a long-term (12 years) Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the whole of their region;
Strategic policy document to set out a vision for the strategic planning and economic development of the region to 2030
Overarching purpose of the RSES is to support the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) & Government Economic Policies;
Sets the framework for local planning and economic development - but will require strategic choices at the regional level
Adoption of the RSES is a Reserved Function which requires the approval of the members of the Assembly.

11. NPF Population and Employment Growth Targets
The NPF projects that:
The projected level of population and jobs growth in the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area would be at least matched by that of Northern and Western and Southern Regional Assembly areas combined.
The population of the Southern Region will increase by between 350,000 and 375,000 people between now and 2040 resulting in a total regional population of people. almost 2 million
This population increase would need to be supported by an additional 220,000 people at work in the Southern Region resulting in a total regional workforce of 880,000.
50% + of Region’s future growth would be accommodated in the cities of Cork, Limerick & Waterford

12. Urban Hierarchy (2016)

13. Smaller Towns and Villages
Rates of demographic change across the Southern Region have varied widely in recent years and have been heavily influenced by commuting patterns to the larger urban centres.
Contraction and ageing populations in many rural settlements has often taken place alongside significant pressure for scattered rural development.
How should we approach the distribution of a targeted population growth of Ireland’s small towns and rural areas at an average rate of 15%?
Target the reversal of rural decline in the core of small towns and villages through sustainable targeted measures that address vacancy and deliver sustainable reuse and regeneration outcomes?

14. Key Tasks for the Regional Assembly (through preparation of a RSES)
Prepare a Metropolitan Strategic Area Plan(MASP) for Cork, Limerick and Waterford(NPO 67)
To provide a planned approach to building 3 Regional Cities of Scale
To set a framework for a sustainable pattern of development to support improved quality of life, high quality public transport & bring work closer to places where people live
Identify settlements other than the cities for significant rates of population growth provision of employment, and alignment with investment in infrastructure and public services and amenities. NPO 9

15. Key Challenges
Challenge for the Regional Assembly is to IMPLEMENT THE NPF to address the challenges identified and align the Regional Priorities with the Strategic Investment Priorities.
Work with the Government Departments and Agencies to harness resources:-
the NATIONAL REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY to be established to co-ordinate and secure use of public lands and to drive renewal of Strategic Areas
To identify strategic priorities to access the new URBAN REGENERATION DEVELOPMENT FUND (Cities an Large Towns) and the RURAL REGENERATION AND DEEVELOPMENT FUND for smalr towns and rural areas
To deliver projects identified in the NDP

16. Funding
The explicit alignment between the NPF and the capital plan (NDP) means that for the first time the resources to implement national and regional planning policy have been identified and provided for.
Thus many of the ‘tools’ to implement the RSES are to be found within the National Development Plan, structured around the 10 No. National Strategic Outcomes (NSO’s) of NPF and the 10 No. Strategic Investment Priorities (SIP’s) of the NDP
Furthermore, very substantial envelopes of funding (€4bln.) are not predetermined, but are to be delivered through competitive calls – the RSES will assist with both the establishment of priorities and the identification of projects which could be funded under these funds

17. Project Ireland 2040 National Priorities
National Planning Framework’s National Strategic Outcomes (NSO) and Priorities of the National Development Plan (NDP)

18. Strategic Investment Priority (SIP) 1: Housing and Sustainable Urban Development - €14.5 bn

19. Allocated on a project not regional basis
Urban Regeneration and Development Fund aims to achieve sustainable growth in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban centres - €2 billion
Allocated on a project not regional basis
Examples of urban redevelopment projects in train with potential to benefit from the new Fund:
Development of the Cork Docklands (City Docks and Tivoli and associated mobility and bridge access);
Limerick 2030 initiative;
Waterford North Quays SDZ regeneration project

20. SIP 2: National Road Network - Inter-Urban Road Network
M20 Cork to Limerick
Current Status: Due to commence planning
Estimated Cost: €850 to 900 million
Estimated Completion Date: 2027 subject to appraisal, planning and procurement
Atlantic Economic Corridor, linking Letterkenny to Waterford via road network and motorway – will thread in Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork
N8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange
N69 Listowel Bypass
N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Road
N21/N69 Limerick to Adare to Foynes
N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom
N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road
N25 New Ross Bypass
M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy

21. SIP 3: Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities, €8
SIP 3: Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities, €8.8 billion (National)
€1 billion Rural Development Fund to promote rural renewal to enable towns, villages and outlying rural areas to grow sustainably and support delivery of the strategic objectives of the NPF

22. SIP 3: Investment in Regional and Local Roads - estimated €4.5 billion
Shannon Crossing
Dingle Relief Road
Coonagh to Knockalisheen Main Contract
Realignment of R498 Nenagh/Thurles road at
Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade
Carrigaline Western Distributor Road
Examples of projects currently subject to appraisal are set out below:
Thurles Relief road
Carlow Southern Relief Road
Tralee Northern Relief Road

23. SIP 4: Environmentally Sustainable Public Transport, €8.6 billion
For Example Cork BusConnects
Current Status: Cork Transport Strategy being developed in partnership with the NTA.
Estimated Cost: €200 million
Estimated Completion Date: 2027
Delivery of crucial bus corridors, enhanced services, cashless fares and account-based ticketing.
A network of park and ride sites, serviced by the more efficient bus network.
Enormous potential to radically transform the bus system in Cork, making it much more efficient, reliable and attractive to new passengers.
Steady State investment has to match Maintenance and Renewal needs
Integrated and sustainable national public transport system consistent with the NPF NSOs of Sustainable Mobility as well as Compact Growth
Transport initiatives for the 3 cities of the region to include
traffic management,
bus priority smarter travel projects
new urban cycling
walking routes
to allow transport infrastructure to function more effectively and relieve congestion

24. SIP 4: Environmentally Sustainable Public Transport
Protect investment in existing inter-urban rail network
A feasibility study of high speed rail between Dublin Belfast, Dublin Limerick Junction/Cork and an evaluation of its economic benefits against improvements to existing line speeds will also be carried out against relevant appraisal processes and value-for-money tests required under the Public Spending Code to commence within a year.
Contract is underway to introduce 28 rail carriages that are expected to re-enter service in 2019
Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority (NTA) are assessing the availability of additional fleet prior to the delivery of new diesel electric trains expected in (enlargement of the rail fleet by approximately some 300 new rail carriages)

25. SIP 6: Airports and Ports, €4.8 billion
Regional Airports Programme financial support towards safety and security projects at the smaller regional airports (Waterford and Kerry)
The Port of Cork is also investing c. €90 million in the redevelopment of its existing port facilities at Ringaskiddy to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and increase capacity
Shannon Foynes Port Company will be investing €27 million towards capacity extension works at the Port
Shannon Group
Current Status: Project commenced
Estimated Cost: €150 million
Estimated Completion Date:2022
Shannon Group through its subsidiaries Shannon Airport Authority, Shannon Commercial Enterprises and Shannon Heritage have plans to invest in excess of €150 million in its capital programme over the period to 2022.

26. SIP 8: Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Society €21
SIP 8: Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Society €21.8 billion (€7.6 billion Exchequer/€14.2 billion non-Exchequer)
National Objective - transitioning by 2050 to a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy and society must influence public capital investment choices over the next ten years
Energy Efficiency Measure
Renewable Energy Generation
Transport
Commercial & Private Sector Investments
Agricultural practices
Flood defence measures €940m

27. SIP 9: Sustainable Management of Water and Other Environmental Resources, €8.8 billion
Water Infrastructure Irish Water Investment Programme
€14 billion required by Irish Water over the period 2018 to the mid-2030s, on a structured and phased basis, to meet the investment needs
€8.5 billion will be invested by Irish Water over the period of the NDP to include:
National Programme of Investment to tackle leakage through find and fix
Major capital projects such as the Eastern & Midlands Water Supply Scheme
Rural Water Investment programme
The next presentation by Mike Quinn of Ervia will provide you with much more details of how Irish Water propose to address the many challenges facing the water & waste-water sector

28. Thank You & Any Questions!
Contact details:
Stephen Blair
Director
Southern Regional Assembly,
Assembly House,
O’Connell Street,
Waterford X91 F8PC.
Ph:
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