“DUNDALK 2000 AND BEYOND - A VISION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT” prepared by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Hagan House, Ramparts Rd Dundalk Co Louth Tel: 042 9336343 Fax: 042 9332085 E-mail: [email protected] Table of Contents Page Contents 2 List of Tables 3 Executive Summary 4 Acknowledgements 6 1. Profile of Dundalk 7 1.0 Location 7 1.1 Historical Context 7 1.2 Infrastructure 7 1.3 Business Support and Development Network 11 1.4 Cross Border Dimension 15 1.5 Lifestyle 15 1.6 Population & Demographics 17 1.7 Education 19 1.8 Industrial Profile and Employment 20 1.9 Retail & Tourism Environment 23 2. The Business Community’s Views on Local Economic Development Priorities: 26 Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Members’ Survey 2.0 Priorities for Infrastructural Investment 26 2.1 Priorities for Economic Development 27 2.2 Priorities for Business Support 27 3. An Analysis of Dundalk’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. 29 4. A Vision for Future Development 33 4.0 A Vision for Industrial Development 33 4.1 A Vision for Retail Development 33 4.2 A Vision for Tourism Development 33 5. Achieving the Vision: A Strategy 34 5.1 Industrial Development Strategy 34 5.2 Retail Development Strategy 37 5.3 Tourism Development Strategy 37 6 Conclusion 41 2 List of Tables Table Page 1.1 Dundalk Population Trends relative to County Louth & State 1986 –1996 17 1.2 Conservative Population Projections for Dundalk 1991 – 2011 17 1.3 Dundalk, Population classified by Age, Group and State 18 1.4 Projected Population based on Age Groupings 18 1.5 An Analysis of Dundalk’s Labour Force in Principal Occupational Groups 22 1.6 Priorities for Infrastructural Development 26 1.6 Priorities for Economic Development 27 1.8 Priorities for Business Support 28 3 DUNDALK 2000 AND BEYOND - A VISION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In preparing this Economic development Plan “Dundalk 2000 and Beyond - a Vision for Economic Development” our objective was to establish the business community’s vision and priorities for the future economic development of Dundalk; devise a strategy to achieve the vision and to involve the main economic players in Dundalk from both public and private sectors in furthering key identified development projects. The development plan is the result of a process which involved: • A comprehensive survey of Chamber members to identify the business community’s views and priorities for development. • Consultation with other organisations involved in economic development. • Consultation and discussion between Business Sectoral Working Groups established for this purpose. • An examination of the demographic and industrial profile of Dundalk and a detailed SWOT analysis. • Defining the vision and strategy necessary to achieve the vision. From consultation with other organisations and an analysis of the profile of Dundalk, it is clear that the area possesses many strategically important strengths in terms of location, infrastructure, tradition of industry and entrepreneurship; presence of a high quality higher education institute and excellent lifestyle. However, the area has suffered from a negative perceived image because of its peripheral border location. Also, although the area has a strong micro-electronic and high technology industrial base, it suffers from a lack of perceived strong industry identity. Dundalk’s rich prehistoric legacy and mythology offers tourism development potential which has yet to be realised. Dundalk’s position as a North-South Gateway offers significant opportunities for tourism and retail development. The vision is intended to address as a priority the issue of Dundalk’s image and promotion . Development projects have been identified that will capitalise on Dundalk’s strengths and fully exploit opportunities offered : Dundalk will be perceived as an attractive place in which to invest, locate, work and live with a high level of quality employment.. Dundalk will be recognised as Ireland’s premier industrial location for High Technology and other Internationally Traded Service Sector Companies, both indigenous and inward investment. Dundalk will be recognised as the premier retail and commercial location in the North East. It will be a diverse, attractive and secure retail environment with excellent parking facilities. Dundalk will be an attractive tourism location for both national and international visitors and will capitalise on it’s unique Mythological strengths. 4 The strategy to achieve this vision will require • The designation of a particular area as a North-East Business & Technology Park . This development is seen as a key step in improving Dundalk’s image as a key industrial location for high-technology indigenous and inward investment companies. • The construction of A Science Services Centre in this designated area providing workspace for indigenous start-up companies, growing local I.T. and other knowledge based companies, will further enhance Dundalk’s image as a centre of excellence. • The production of promotional material on Dundalk will re-inforce this image . • The creation and development of a marketable brand and tourism identity for the area drawn on its rich mythological heritage. • The development of A National Mythological Interpretative centre will consolidate this identity and provide a much needed tourism flagship attraction for the area. • An Annual Festival with a mythological theme will further re-inforce this theme. • The appointment of a retail development manager will promote co-operation and mobilise all interested parties in the town towards a common purpose. The vision is intended to identify key areas for action which will advance the development of Dundalk. It is not meant to be prescriptive or comprehensive, but is intended to stimulate discussion, generate new ideas and, most importantly, act as a catalyst for constructive action. The involvement of the main economic players in Dundalk from both public and private sectors would greatly benefit the development of key identified projects and promote a shared vision of the future economic development of Dundalk. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dundalk Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all our members for their valuable input. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce acknowledges the work of all Chamber committee members for their participation in the preparation of this document. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the work of the specific subcommittees who were responsible for the drawing up this development plan: Joe Bailey, Martin Food Equipment Noel Crowe, ABB Industrial Systems Andrew Dearey, James Dearey & Son Aidan Donnelly, Quantum Ireland Ltd Eoin Leavy, Leavy’s Chemists Donal Lynch, ABB Industrial Systems Francis Murphy, James Murphy & Sons Mary Murray, AIB Terry McKevitt, McKevitts Village Hotel Denis O’Flynn, Dundalk Packaging Pearse O’Hanrahan, Dundalk Harbour Commissioners Aidan O’Mahony, AIB Deirdre Ryan, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce We would also like to thank representatives from the following organisations with whom we consulted in formulating our vision: Dundalk Enterprise Development Company Dundalk Employment Partnership Dundalk Institute of Technology Dundalk Urban District Council Fas Forbairt IDA IFI Louth County Enterprise Board Louth County Council Louth County Tourism Committee Regional Development Centre 6 DUNDALK 2000 AND BEYOND - A VISION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1.PROFILE OF DUNDALK 1.0 LOCATION Dundalk is strategically positioned on the east coast of Ireland lying approximately mid way between, and fifty miles from ,the two largest cities in the island of Ireland, Belfast and Dublin. 1.1 HISTORICAL CONTEXT Dundalk, the largest provincial town in the Republic takes its name from Dun Dealgan, Dalga’s fort home closely associated with the famous mythical warrior Cuchulainn. The early town of Dundalk was founded around the late twelfth century (1189). The town was sited on the lowest bridging point of the Castletown River, on a ridge which ran in a north-south direction. Today, the modern Town of Dundalk still retains the linear characteristics of the medieval Town. Although there is clear evidence of prehistoric and early Christian Settlements in the area, the majority of the archaeological deposits relate to the medieval period. The layout of the central urban area derives from the medieval period and it is noteworthy that there are two extensive medieval settlements within the Town. The pattern of development of the town has been largely influenced by the Dublin- Belfast rail line which runs slightly to the west of the town centre and the Castletown River, to the north of the town and by low lying land to the east. The town has therefore developed largely to the south-east and to the west over the past thirty years. Today Dundalk is the administrative capital of the north-east region and the business and shopping capital of County Louth. 1.2 INFRASTRUCTURE ROADS: Dundalk is serviced by the N1 which is the National Primary Road which connects Belfast and Dublin. The national NI forms the line of the presently developing Euro-Route EO1. This Euroroute will connect Dundalk to Larne and Belfast in the North, and Dublin and Rosslare in the South.Sections of this route have already being constructed including the Dunleer by-pass. It is estimated that the Balbriggan bypass will be completed by the first quarter of 1999. The Dunleer - Dundalk phase is expected to be completed by the second quarter of the year 2001. The Drogheda bypass is estimated to be completed by the first quarter of 2003. The Dundalk Western motorway is expected to be completed by the final quarter of the year 2002. The construction of the Dundalk/Newry Dual Carriageway is estimated to commence before 2005. 7 The completion of this motorway project will be of major beneficial significance to Dundalk, significantly reducing time/distance between Dundalk and Dublin and Belfast, and will facilitate to a greater extent the Dundalk region as a centre from which to service the two main cities on the island. Several other road improvements have recently been completed. The Dundalk inner - relief road which was completed in 1996.