Local Authority Times Local Authority Times Vol 21 No.1 & 2 Summer 2017 ISSN No. 0791-8267 Ireland 2040 Plan: What it is and Contents 1. Ireland 2040 Plan: What what it hopes to achieve it is and what it hopes to achieve By Sheema Lughmani and David Eaton, 5. The Potential Impact of IPA Publications Division Brexit and the Good Friday Agreement Introduction: Ireland’s National Planning 9. The role of the Data Protection Officer The implementation of the Ireland 2040 Challenges: plan stems from fundamental questions In recent decades, Ireland has developed 12. Commission presents regarding the future and trajectory of tremendously, particularly during White Paper on the future of Europe the nation and as such will encompass the early 1990s which exhibited national strategies to respond to the extraordinary growth despite the 15. NUI GALWAY TEAM receives EPA funding growing changes anticipated in the Irish economic recession. The overall population has increased by over 1 to tackle EPIIC economy, society, and environment. environmental challenges million currently reaching nearly 4.75 The 2040 Plan, led by the Department million. Additionally, the housing stock 16. Freedom of Donegal of Housing, Planning, Community and has increased to over 2 million homes, for footballer Seamus Local Government, is intended to serve Coleman rising tremendously from the previous as a framework for the progression and 750,000. Increases in employment 22. What future for Europe? realization of future development and evince even further improvement, From a Council of investment in Ireland. Also called the European Municipalities rising from 660,000 to over 2 million National Planning Framework (NPF), the and Regions (CEMR) in 2017. These trends exhibit that position 2040 Plan will provide the foundational Ireland will continue to expand, and 25. “Our common values efforts from which future plans will as the population grows, additional should direct Europe’s develop, including strategies for city and demands for housing and jobs will be future” claim Europe’s county development. This paper will necessitated. Thus, the 2040 Plan will towns and regions detail the primary areas of the 2040 Plan seek to address the increasing demands and its overall objectives regarding the in infrastructure, services, and facilities, News items next two decades of Ireland’s economic, as within the next two decades Ireland Pages 26-48 social, and environmental growth. will: Donegal named ‘Media’s Favourite Place in Ireland’ at TravelMedia.ie Awards Need for a reduction in energy consumption underlined by 2016 growth What sort of place New consultations detail major savings proposals in should ireland be in Bristol neighbourhoods 2040 and what do Ireland elected to the Governing Body of the we need to do to International Labour achieve this? Organisation (ILO) and more... Source: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (2017) Printed on Recycled Paper 1 • increase in population to a projected figure of 5.6 million • double the population of people over 65 • require over 500,000 new homes to respond to growing demands • peak at demand for third-level education by mid-late 2020s • place an increasing emphasis on active lifestyles as the population grows, with a particular focus on mental health • require an increase in environmental protection towards water and air quality, soils, along with the protection of natural habitats • need to adapt to climate change and set forth plans to reduce carbon emissions, increase efforts for renewable energy, with a target goal for a sustainable Ireland by 2050. Source: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (2017) The 2040 Plan will design frameworks to an economy that will establish habits. The 2040 Plan therefore devises address these changes in Irish economic, national benefits, the 2040 Plan to incorporate activities to encourage societal, and environmental factors will offer developments to improve active and healthier lifestyles, such as in a method that serves the nation as a environmental factors to create a safe walking facilities and improved whole. While growth in these areas will healthier quality of life for future cycling paths. occur regardless of an established and generations. The NPF will be involved in effective NPF, the primary goal however improving direct environmental factors A secondary focus of the NPF regarding is to ensure economic growth outside including air pollution, road traffic, health concentrates on reducing steadily the Dublin region. Current trends floods, and climate change in efforts to rising car dependency rate. For example, exhibit that while economic growth in create a positive impact regarding Irish over 60% of commuters use cars for the East will rise, rural areas are likely health and safety within the next two work, with 10% of these commuters to experience a decline in growth decades. spending over an hour on their and experience continuous falls in journeys. Increasing car dependency population. The 2040 Plan seeks to move Additionally, current modern lifestyles rates add further pressure on town- away from the ‘Business as Usual’ model that revolve around indoor work present based businesses to provide car parking as this method does not focus on growth rising trends of increased obesity rates, facilities to meet the rapidly rising for the nation as a whole. Therefore, the diabetes, and heart disease, along demands. This rising car dependence NPF seeks alternate strategies to provide with higher rates of depression that has resulted in increasing tendencies economic growth to regions beyond the are associated with reduced levels of towards the usage of out of town East that will simultaneously ease the exercise. Recent studies report that shopping, business, or other activities, housing burden of the Dublin region. nearly 60% of adults and 25% of resulting in a decline in the utilization children are either overweight or obese. of historic town centres. As such, the People’s Health and Well-Being While diet contributes to these rising deterioration of the town centre as a trends, spatial planning plays an equally place to live, work, or conduct business In addition to efforts to cultivate important role in the rise of unhealthy has negatively impacted the viability of the significance of urban town centres. 2 Source: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (2017) A secondary focus of the NPF regarding aspects of society as the population of (European Commission, 2016, p. 4). The health concentrates on reducing steadily those over 65 has doubled. Additionally, report recognised key deficits in the Irish rising car dependency rate. For example, the population of those aged over 85 has planning system and associated problems over 60% of commuters use cars for effectively quadrupled during the last for Irish infrastructural development. In work, with 10% of these commuters 50 years. As these trends are expected particular, the report notes that due to the financial crisis of 2008, funding for spending over an hour on their to continue, the NPF will attempt to infrastructure in the period between journeys. Increasing car dependency implement strategies to ensure that the 2010 – 2013 period has seen a reduction rates add further pressure on town- elderly population will have the ability in capital expenditure by a margin of based businesses to provide car parking to commute via public transportation, as nearly 50%. This underinvestment facilities to meet the rapidly rising well as retain access to services they will has reduced the quality of the Irish demands. This rising car dependence need. infrastructure, while also creating an has resulted in increasing tendencies undersupply of key public goods such towards the usage of out of town Why do we need a new Planning as housing, roads, and broadband. This shopping, business, or other activities, Framework? damages the competitiveness of the Irish resulting in a decline in the utilization economy and has created problems for of historic town centres. As such, the The NPF has identified key aspects of the Irish transport system, along with infrastructure development in Ireland. raising levels of homelessness. As such deterioration of the town centre as a The framework was developed in the NPF has been developed to both place to live, work, or conduct business response to the European Commissions’ respond to and better prepare Ireland to Furthermore, population aging, cited recommendation that Ireland should plan policy in order to alleviate many of as the most prominent trend of the past “develop in order to promote durable the concerns the nation currently faces. century, will continue to impact all and balanced” growth in the future 3 The National Planning the hope that long term strategic key cities, a more balanced development Framework and Infrastructure investments will allow for a balanced would occur, thereby reducing Dublin’s spatial development. It can be seen in housing demand, while simultaneously The NPF will attempt to address the plans such as Rebuilding Ireland and The assisting regional cities to shift towards failings of the 2002-2020 National National Broadband Plan, in that both becoming international centres for Development Plan by instead utilizing are targeted strategic investment plans. trade and development. Therefore, the a greater degree of inter-departmental To ensure that such plans are successful, 2040 Plan will foster the development and spatial coordination initiatives. the government aims to regularly of these cities, furthering their growth This will allow for the NPF to identify monitor the impact of its policies and and prominence as key regions within key issues and problems across Ireland, use an evidenced informed approach to Ireland, allowing for a more sustainable facilitating a process of decision making influence future investments and plans. cross regional development. regarding strategic investment. These investments would be prioritised, The need for balanced The Implementation the National bringing with them a targeted approach development Planning Framework to regional development.