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

Border Regional Authority Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 – CHAPTER 1
1.14.4 SKILLS, EDUCATION & INNOVATION
The changing sectoral profile of employment, presents a particular skills challenge for the Border Region.
The challenge is all the more serious given the relatively lower levels of educational attainment within the
Region, and a relatively high level of early school leaving - although this has reduced considerably in recent
years. There is a low level of expenditure on R&D, within business and the Higher Education Institutes
(HEI) - efforts are required to identify collaborative opportunities 7 .
1.14.5 ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURES: ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY
The location of the Border Region, its cross-border relationships and potential opportunities, and its
challenging/yet attractive physical environment, present certain connectivity challenges which need to be
addressed in support of maximising the economic development potential of the Region.
Significant progress has been achieved in terms of road access over recent years, and there now needs to
be a clear understanding, north and south of the border, of the main transport corridors that must be
developed.
The development of Project Kelvin is a significant boost to the Region in terms of critical
telecommunications infrastructure. However, additional investment will be required in broadband
infrastructure throughout the Region.
Air access is of immense importance to the Region underlining the need for good road transport links
serving the international airports at Belfast and Dublin, and the need to maximise the impact of the four
regional airports serving the Region: Sligo, Donegal, Derry and Knock.
The Region benefits from interconnection to the Northern Ireland electricity grid and further integration of
the grids north and south is planned. The transmission network in the North West requires significant
reinforcement, and is essential if the significant un-tapped wind energy potential in this part of the Region is
to be realised.
1.14.6 PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY
The Border Region encompasses an area of 12,156 sq. km. from the Atlantic Ocean on the West Coast to
the Irish Sea on the East Coast. The Region is well endowed with a rich and diverse range of man- made
and natural resources. One of the key strengths of the Region is its outstanding natural landscape that
includes a wealth of biodiversity and a significant range of ecological sites of international and national
importance. Along with its strong cultural and heritage assets, it can be seen as an area very suitable for a
strong tourism base. The Region is the source of Ireland’s two longest rivers - the Shannon and the Erne,
which is one of the world’s greatest waterways. It has a considerable coastal area and unique mountain
ranges.
One of the key development issues for the region is the proportion of the regional authority area that is
designated as Natura 2000 sites (See Environmental Spatial Strategy Map), NHAs, National Parks and
Nature Reserves as well as the number, range, and sensitivities of habitats and species of Irish and
European importance that the region supports.
These Guidelines will highlight the potential impact(s) of development on the above designated sites and
develop a policy framework that will avoid adverse or significant impacts on these sites or provide the
necessary mitigation, where appropriate, to maintain their conservation status and integrity.
7
Líonra, is a network of the seven third level colleges in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Region of Ireland whose
aim is to develop effective collaborative responses by the third level sector to the developmental needs of the BMW region.
The group which was established in 2000 has recently announced a 'Collaborative Research and Innovation Strategy''.
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