downloads/RPGs/Border Regional Authority RPGs 2010-2022.pdf

Border Regional Authority Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 – CHAPTER 1
1.11 ENERGY
Electricity is the main energy demand in the Region, largely met by the main energy supplier, the ESB. The
development of more sustainable, competitive, diverse and secure supplies of electricity to support
economic and social development is a key challenge for the Region. Extending the network into Northern
Ireland and the UK through interconnectors, will provide the Region, and the Country, with a secure and
reliable electricity supply into the 21st Century. Like many of the Regions in the country, demand for
electricity will continue to increase, despite the efficiencies being made through innovation and new
technologies.
Gas is not a major energy source within the Region. Table 1.7 outlines those counties and towns currently
supplied by the gas network.
TABLE 1.7
County
Louth
Cavan
Monaghan
AREAS SUPPLIED BY NATURAL GAS WITHIN THE BORDER REGION
List of Towns Supplied with Natural Gas
Ardee, Blackrock, Clogherhead, Drogheda, Dromiskin, Dundalk, Dunleer,
Termonfeckin, Tullyallen
Kingscourt, Virginia, (Bailieborough – Industrial Plant only)
Carrickmacross, Lough Egish
The lack of gas supply in the Region could become a competitiveness issue into the future; therefore
alternative energy sources for the Region should be explored.
1.12 TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The previous RPGs considered the rollout of broadband as critical to provide infrastructure and services on
a balanced regional basis. The new focus is on broadband uptake, performance and availability, and is a
key priority for the growth and development of the Region. Despite the aims of National Strategies and the
existing RPGs, Ireland and the Border Region continue to have poor broadband performance in relative
European terms. Advancement in telecommunication infrastructure and performance, represents one of the
most critical steps in creating a more competitive regional and national economy. As a remote and currently
high cost location, Ireland and the Border Region need to take advantage of best available broadband
technologies such as Next Generation Networks and Services.
Telecommunications has been identified as one of the key enabling pieces of infrastructure required to
develop a competitive regional economy. Unfortunately, due to its location and dispersed population, and
ultimately the costs involved, the development of this sector has proven difficult in the Border Region. The
Region was joint lowest (with the Midlands) for both PC (53%), and Broadband (12%) penetration in Ireland
(Census 2006). This is an area where the Region must improve if it is to improve its levels of economic
growth, and promote balanced regional development. The recent announcement of Project Kelvin 5 is a
major development in this sector (see Section 5.6.1 for further details).
Access to broadband services, broadband speeds and competition between providers in rural areas remain
significant issues that have yet to be addressed in telecommunications within the Border Region. These
issues constrain the development of rural areas and present difficulties for enterprise, business start-ups,
home working, distance education and accessing on-line public services which are more easily and readily
available to the majority of urban residents.
1.13 TOURISM
5 Project Kelvin is a major cross-border project initiated by the Department of Enterprise, trade and Employment and the
North’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). At a cost of £32m, it involves connecting a new submarine
cable to an existing transatlantic cable 22 miles off the north coast of Ireland. The new cable will come ashore in Co. Derry,
and Hibernia Atlantic aims to complete the work by mid-2010.
24