MID-WEST REGIONAL PLANNING GUIDELINES 2010 – 2022 Vol.1 Mid-West Regional Authority Údarás Réigiúnach an Mhean-Iarthair Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 FoReWoRd It is my pleasure to present the Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022. The first Regional Plan- ning Guidelines for the Mid-West Region were produced to cover the period 2004-2016. The new Guidelines learn from and build upon these earlier Guidelines bringing them up to date and reflecting current and an- ticipated development trends in the Mid-West Region. They also take into consideration new legislation that was introduced in 2010, i.e. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act which requires local planning authorities to develop ‘core strategies’ consistent with these Regional Planning Guidelines and the National Spatial Strategy. The review of the 2004 Guidelines comes at a time of great change in the economic climate both worldwide and in Ireland. There is no doubt that these changes present real challenges to policy makers and implementa- tion bodies at a local, regional and national Government level. However, they also create both an opportunity and a necessity to improve policy development mechanisms and coordination across implementation bodies so that the country and its regions are well positioned to benefit from and contribute to future economic improvement. The Guidelines offer a long term strategic planning framework for the Mid-West Region and have been developed through a collaborative process involving elected representatives, Local Authorities and other public bodies in the region, private sector and civil society organisations and members of the public. These Guidelines are set within the overall policy framework established by the National Spatial Strategy first adopted in 2002 and updated in 2010 and the National Development Plan 2007-2013. They also reflect other national social, economic and environmental policies which affect the Mid-West Region, as well as a range of existing regional strategies such as the regional Climate Change Strategy, the regional Waste Management Strategies and the County and City Development Board Strategies. The Guidelines set clear objectives and targets which will guide the preparation and reviews of City and County Development Plans in the Mid-West Region. Key objectives of the Guidelines include networking the national Gateways, development of transport cor- ridors and the identification of the role of medium-sized towns and rural areas as drivers of sustainable de- velopment. I want to thank all those who participated so actively in the preparation of these Guidelines. In particular I wish to acknowledge the invaluable contributions from relevant government agencies and departments and, in particular, the Local Authorities of the Mid-West Region – Clare County Council, Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council and North Tipperary County Council and the various Town Councils of the Region. I also wish to acknowledge the substantial contribution of the organisations and individuals who participated actively in the public consultation processes involved in the development of the Guidelines. I want to thank the Authority’s Director, Mr. Liam Conneally and his team for the work and assistance given to us, the elected members, in the Guidelines review process. Finally, I wish to thank my colleagues on the Authority for their active engagement in the statutory process leading to the preparation of the Guidelines and for the time and effort they put in to ensuring that the Guidelines provide an effective basis for enhancing the future prosperity and quality of life of all the Region’s citizens. Cllr. Ger Fahey Cathaoirleach, Mid-West Regional Authority Mid-West Regional Authority Údarás Réigiúnach an Mhean-Iarthair AcknoWledgeMents Members of the Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Gerry Flynn Cllr. Oliver Garry Cllr. P.J. Kelly Cllr. Patrick Keane Cllr. Pat McMahon Cllr. Brian Meaney Cllr. Sonny Scanlan Cllr. Ger Fahy Cllr. Kathleen Leddin Cllr. Michael Hourigan Cllr. Joe Leddin Cllr. Denis McCarthy Cllr. Diarmuid Scully Cllr. Richard Butler Cllr. Mike Donegan Cllr. John Egan Cllr. Noel Gleeson Cllr. Stephen Keary Cllr. William O’Donnell Cllr. Leo Walsh Cllr. Phyll Bugler Cllr. Gerard Darcy Cllr. Seamus Hanafin Cllr. Michéal Lowry Cllr. Virginia O’Dowd Cllr. Mattie Ryan RPGs Steering Committee Cllr. Brian Meaney, Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Leo Walsh, Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Michael Hourigan, Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Phyll Bugler, Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Richard Butler, Mid-West Regional Authority Cllr. Noel Gleeson, Mid-West Regional Authority Mr. Richard Tobin, RPG Project Manager, Senior Planner, Limerick City Council Mr. Seamus Treacy, Staff Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Mr. Brendan Flood, Enterprise Ireland Dr. Brian Callanan, Shannon Development Mr. Ciarán Lynch, Director of Rural Development, Tipperary Institute Mr. Liam Conneally, Director, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Gabrielle McKeown, Senior Advisor, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Mr. Jerry Moloney, Enterprise Ireland Mr. Jim Ellis, Department of Transport Ms. Marie Collins, Research Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Maura Saddington, IDA Ireland Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 Mr. Niall Cussen, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Ms. Olivia Loughnane, Shannon Development Mr. Pat Tobin, Department of Transport Mr. Sean Denvir, IDA Ireland Mr. Terry O’Niadh, North Tipperary County Council Mr. Tom Coughlan, Clare County Council Mr. Tom Mackey, Limerick City Council Mr. Vincent Cunnane, Shannon Development RPGs Working Committee Mr. Liam Conneally, Director, Mid-West Regional Authority Mr. Richard Tobin, RPGs Project Manager, Senior Planner, Limerick City Council Mr. Ciarán Lynch, Director of Rural Development, Tipperary Institute Ms. Gráinne O’Keeffe, Limerick County Council Ms. Gabrielle McKeown, Senior Advisor, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dr. Brian Callinan, Shannon Development Mr. John Gannon, Clare County Council SEA Team Mr. Ciarán Lynch, Director of Rural Development, Tipperary Institute (SEA/AA Team Leader) Mr. Kevin Healion, Tipperary Institute Ms. Pauline Ryan, Tipperary Institute Administrative Support Mr. Seamus Treacy, Staff Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Marie Collins, Research Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Majella O’Brien, Clerical Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Linda Newport, Project Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Deirdre Byrne, Project Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Ms. Fiona McCormack, Staff Officer, Mid-West Regional Authority Irish Translation Ms. Christina Heneghan, Galway Photographs & Images provided by Clare County Council Limerick City Council Limerick County Council North Tipperary County Council Shannon Development Mid-West Roads Design Office Lough Derg Marketing Committee Shannon-Foynes Port Company Limerick Regeneration Mid-West Regional Authority Údarás Réigiúnach an Mhean-Iarthair Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 Table oF contents 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................15 2. CONTEXT...........................................................................................................................17 2.1 Functions of Regional Planning Guidelines .................................................................................18 2.2 National Context of the Mid-West Region ..................................................................................18 2.2.1 National Development Plan (NDP), 2000-2006 ...........................................................................19 2.2.2 The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) .............................................................................................19 2.2.3 Energy and Government Policy .................................................................................................... 22 2.2.4 Smarter Travel ............................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.5 Existing and Proposed Regional Strategies .................................................................................23 2.3 Regional Context of the Mid-West Region ..................................................................................24 2.3.1 The Role of Shannon ..................................................................................................................... 24 2.3.2 Limerick Regeneration ..................................................................................................................26 2.4 The Region Today ..........................................................................................................................27 2.4.1 Population ..................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.2 Economic Activity .......................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.3 Tourism ..........................................................................................................................................29 2.4.4 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................30