Leaving Certificate Regional Geography

2008 Q 12 (c) Q: Examine two of the main problems created by the continued pace of urban growth in a region you have studied. (30 marks)

I have studied two problems associated with the continued growth of the urban regions and these are traffic congestion and urban decay in the core region of Ireland or in the Greater Dublin Region.

Traffic congestion is a big problem, especially in cities. As there are so many people moving out from inner cities due to increased rents and the desire for space, they move out to the suburbs. House and renting costs are lower and the houses can be larger and appealing to families. Due to having jobs in the inner cities, people commute to work each day either by car, train, bike, bus or taxi. As a result there are more cars on the roads. These worsen the rush hour traffic jams between 7-9am and then from 4-6pm, called morning and evening rush hours. This happens because many roads serving cities converge in the city centers which causes many traffic bottlenecks. A traffic bottleneck is where traffic becomes so congested that it makes the row slow or stop. This increases stress levels of drivers as it can take them 2-3 hours to get to work in the morning and the same time to get home. An example of traffic congestion in Ireland would be on the M50 motorway into county Dublin. Great measures are being taken to reduce this problem in major cities such as introducing tolls that scan car registration plates. These tolls require a pay at home scheme so as not to stop to pay on the busy roads and are helping to reduce traffic congestion.

Urban decay is also a bad problem with urban sprawl. It occurs over time when parts of a city become rundown. The population declines as people move from these areas to more attractive areas such as suburbs. Business may also decline as big businesses move to new areas of the city. As a result, unemployment rises and this creates issues such as isolation and depression possibly leading to drug and alcohol abuse. Many people of these areas are uneducated and struggle to find employment. An example of this is in Ballymun in county Dublin. The area is located in north- side Dublin and the counsel built lots of housing in the 1960’s. Before living in these complexes, people lived in old Georgian tenements. These houses usually lacked basic facilities such as bathrooms. In Ballymun there were no shops, amenities or leisure facilities for the people. There were seven high fifteen-storey towers which gave about 3,000 homes. There was high unemployment as well as very high rates of drug and alcohol abuse and crime. The area got a bad name and reputation as it was so neglected. However areas of urban decay may not be lost forever as urban regeneration could improve the area. Ballymun is now undergoing a new project called the ‘Regeneration Project’ where it is being changed for the better for the local people and residents. They will have leisure centers and incentives for local enterprise.

In conclusion, traffic congestion and urban decay are two problems that result from the pace of urban growth in the core region of County Dublin.