National Spatial Strategy For Ireland 2002 - 2020 - Full ... - Kildare.ie

Substantial progress towards balanced regional development also requires strong policy responses in relation to
accessibility, opportunities for participation and environmental quality issues, which can broadly be summarised as
follows:
Enhanced Accessibility For urban and rural areas, through an interconnected mesh of efficient
and integrated road or rail transport systems, energy and communication
grids — all designed to converge at nationally strategic locations.
More Opportunities for Participation This will come about through building critical mass within regions to a
level that supports investment in education, health, amenities and social
facilities that will enable people to benefit from the opportunities arising
from development of a region’s potential.
Environmental Quality It is important to recognise that a high quality environment is a
prerequisite for economic success, social cohesion and sustainable
development.
Through these policy responses substantial progress can be made over the next twenty years in a way that:
• sustains areas which are growing but lessens development pressures within them
• promotes real regional growth in population and output terms
• achieves greater convergence in terms of income and output between different areas.
3.2 Looking Strategically at the Future.
Achieving a dynamic urban and rural structure will involve working with and building upon the strengths of different
places.
Dublin as the capital city plays a vital national role. But it needs effective strategic planning and better management of
the strong development pressures within it to secure and consolidate that role for the future.
Increasing interaction is emerging between Dublin and Belfast. This is a significant asset, in line with the European
wide trend of increased co-operation between cities to enhance competitiveness. The interaction has major potential
benefits for the whole of the island of Ireland. The growing strength of Dublin and Belfast at either end of an emerging
economic corridor also points, however, to the need to secure and enhance the roles of towns strategically placed
between these two major centres.
The existing gateways of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford are strategically located in different parts of the country.
They have considerable potential for further development and expansion to achieve more balanced regional
development.
Derry has been identified in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland as a Regional City for the North
West, including Donegal.
There is evidence of growing interaction between Cork and Limerick and also between Waterford and Cork and between
Limerick and Galway. This interaction suggests future possibilities for combining the complementary strengths of these
cities and expanding such interaction to achieve a critical mass strong enough to balance the type of critical mass that
has been achieved by Dublin.
The National Spatial Strategy | People, Places and Potential 41