Regions of Ireland: Dublin
Dublin Regional Authority |
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Contact: Ms. Patricia Potter (Director) Email: info@dra.ie Web: www.dra.ie Address: 1st Floor, Mainscourt, 23 Main Street, Swords , Co. Dublin. Tel: +353 1 8074482 Fax: +353 1 8901355 |
Profile of the Region:
The Dublin Region comprises the constituent city/county council administrative areas of Dublin City, South Dublin County, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County and Fingal County in the east of Ireland and occupies an area of 921 sq. km (92,100 hectares).
The population of the Region is 1.18 million (2006), an increase of 9.5% on 2002 figures and representing 28% of the State’s total population. Approximately 506,000 persons live in the Dublin Metropolitan Area with the remainder outside the city limits. The median age of the regions’ population stood at 35.6 years in 2006 with 62% aged between 20-64 years of age. The Dublin Region had a residual net migration of 48,000 in the period 2002 to 2006 with a natural increase of 33,000 persons.
With the exception of Dublin City, each of the county administrations has a rural and urban dimension. The Region is located on the coast with mountain ranges to the south and rich pastures to the west and north. Dublin is a vibrant region and the powerhouse of the recent expansion in the Irish economy. Dublin is also an historic region, whose heritage is only complemented by the major investments in renewal activities of recent years. The Dublin Region consists of the nation’s Capital and houses an International Airport and two main seaports. Dublin City has become a truly European City and one of the world leaders in software development.
The Dublin economy has been identified as the major powerhouse of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ and Ireland’s chief gateway to the global economy. Between the early 1990’s and 2007 the Dublin economy expanded by nearly 100%, with a substantial shift away from older manufacturing industry towards high value (e.g. financial) services and knowledge-based sectors and also low-skilled retail and domestic services. This transformation involved significant restructuring with consequent high levels of unemployment in the 1980s and early 1990s and accompanying damage to the social structure of the capital.
The economic transformation of Dublin has presented many challenges, particularly with regard to spatial planning, transportation and other areas, and there is now a growing awareness of the need to co-ordinate these developments at the level of the Greater Dublin Area. In recent years significant advances have been made in addressing these issues, in particular within the context of the Regional Planning Guidelines and a transportation strategy (2000-2016) for the Greater Dublin Area.
The development of Dublin has also benefited from a new approach to addressing social issues. Since the mid-1990s the Dublin region has seen a consolidation of local development partnerships and local enterprise agencies (Enterprise Boards), as well as other local-level initiatives such as the Drug Task Forces and the Community Development Programme. The reform of local government during this period has also contributed to creating a new platform for the future development of the Dublin region
Socio-economic Data
NUTS level |
III |
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Area (sq. kms) |
922 |
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% of area of State |
1.3% |
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Population (2006) |
1.18 m |
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% of national population |
30% |
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Population density (persons/sq km) |
1218 |
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Regional capital (town/city) |
Dublin City |
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Population |
506,000 |
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Regional GDP (2002) |
€ 42,505m |
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GDP (% of State average in 2002) |
128.9 |
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GDP (% of EU25 in 2002) |
171.4 |
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Workforce |
555,306 |
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Employment rate |
95.9% |
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Employment in key industries: |
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1. Services |
80% |
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2.Industry |
12% |
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3. Construction |
8% |
Regional Structures
Dublin Regional Authority is one of eight Authorities established by the Government under the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authority Establishment Orders 1993). The DRA consists of a Board of 30 elected representatives nominated from the four Dublin local authorities operating within the region: 14 members from Dublin City Council (DCC), 6 from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) - currently including one additional member from the Committee of the Regions - and 5 each from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and Fingal County Council (FCC) respectively. The members of the Regional Authority meet in session once a month.
The main functions of the Regional Authority are :
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to promote co-ordination and, where appropriate, co-operation , joint action , joint arrangements, agreements, communication or consultation between local authorities or other public authorities in the region or between such authorities of other regions.
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to promote co-ordination, consistency and compatibility with programmes, plans policies, proposals or objectives of the Government or any Minister of the Government.
In carrying out its duties the Authority is assisted by two committees, the Operational Committee and the EU Operational Committee. The Operational Committee’s function is to assist and advise the Authority in the discharge of its functions. Membership is drawn from senior management from Local Authorities and other public service agencies in the region. The EU Operational Committee assists the Authority in matters relating to EU assistance and the monitoring of various EU Operational Programmes applicable in the Region.
As well as having regard to issues of specific local and regional interest (see below), the DRA also addresses national issues of relevance to the social, economic and environmental development of the Dublin Region and prepares position papers on issues of concern for the attention of Government departments. For example, it prepared its response to the NDP 2007-2013 in its document, The NDP, What’s in it for Dublin. In late 2007, the Authority also prepared Position Papers on Sustainable and Renewable Energy Options for Dublin and Greening Dublin’s Fleet. In addition, the Regional Authority has, over the past year, prepared submissions on the Green Paper on Local Government Reform - Implications for the Dublin Regional Authority; the Dublin Transportation Authority Bill; the Department of Transport - Statement of Strategy 2008-2010; and, the consultation document 2020 Vision-Sustainable Travel and Transport.
Regional Priorities
In this era of globalisation the further development of the Dublin Region as an international hub is paramount to continued economic prosperity both regionally and nationally. As the Dublin Region is the main transport, trade, educational, health and urban tourism node and asset of Ireland, much of the country’s output is predicated on the Dublin Region having more than adequate infrastructure to provide essential national services such as swift and efficient access to and from the ports and airports. The Dublin Region will also face up to the challenges facing it in terms of the creation of a healthy, diverse, innovative, environmentally friendly and socially equitable region. To this effect the Dublin Regional Authority continually aims to secure an improved future for the region through enhanced activity and cooperation within and between public sector agencies, private sector bodies and the general public. This process is facilitated along four main facets:
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Dublin as a living city region with low levels of crime, a clean environment, a well educated workforce and high levels of accessibility
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Dublin as a metropolitan region with an innovative enterprise base, high skills levels, a creative workforce and a vibrant economy
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Dublin as the National Capital with a unique character and physical environment and effective, well integrated local government
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Dublin as a leading European City with high levels of competitiveness and an attractive location for inward investment.
The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) for the Greater Dublin Area combines two Regional Authority areas - the Dublin Regional Authority and the Mid-East Regional Authority - for the purposes of Regional Planning. The current RPGs were adopted by the Dublin and Mid-East Regional Authorities on the 8th of July 2004 and cover the Councils of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin City, Fingal and South Dublin in the Dublin Region and Kildare, Meath and Wicklow in the Mid-East Region. Prior to the adoption of the Regional Planning Guidelines, the 7 Councils and the 2 Regions, in association with the Department of Environment and Local Government, had prepared a non-statutory regional planning guidance document, The Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area, in 1999. The current RPGs are updated regularly through a series of reports as required by Implementation Guidelines. These Reports cover a wide range of topics such as Population and Housing Updates; National and Regional Economy; Waste and Water Infrastructure; Environment and Heritage; Social Inclusion, and so on. These reports are available at http://www.rpg.ie/reports.html. The latest review process for the RPGs will commence in late Autumn 2008. Revised RPGs are required to be in place 6 years from the date of adoption (as after this date - under Sc. 27 (5) of the Act - planning authorities will not be obliged to have regard to them). Therefore, in order to have revised guidelines in place, the revised document needs to be completed by June 2010.
Dublin Bay
The members of the Regional Authority have, since 2007, been considering the future of Dublin Bay based on the findings of a Dublin City Council report commissioned on a wide-ranging economic, amenity and environmental basis. This included an assessment of the impact of leaving the Dublin Port area in its current city centre location as well as a number of potential options for development of the port lands based on partial or complete relocation of the port. The Dublin Regional Authority was presented with details of the study findings at its meeting in November 2007, and having discussed the matter comprehensively, the Authority submitted comments to Dublin City Council as part of the consultation phase with key points raised including:
• a welcome for the debate about the future of Dublin Port with the caution that there was a need to undertake a comprehensive approach to the sustainable development of the wider Bay area;
• the view that a further study was needed to address the specifics of the relocation of the port outside Dublin;
• a recognition that there is as yet no overall co-ordination between the many authorities, State agencies and organisations whose remit includes the Dublin Bay area, and as such, it is difficult to monitor the development of Dublin Bay and to ascertain if it is being developed to its full potential.
As part of its submission the Dublin Regional Authority recommended that, as the only democratic regional body operating in the area, it should be the overarching body responsible for Dublin Bay, augmented by other agencies, e.g. Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
Since then and as part of the Programme for Government, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has mandated the Dublin Regional Authority to lead and facilitate the establishment of a Dublin Bay Task Force and to progress the work of preparing a Master Plan for Dublin Bay. On Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 the Task Force was launched by Minister Gormley and the first meeting was held. Stakeholder consultation is an essential part of the proposed Master Plan and, as of August 2008, opinions were being sought on the details for the terms of reference for the Plan.
Creative City
In 2007, the Authority undertook a number of high level projects to improve the international profile of the Region and introduce international best practices in the area of economic benchmarking and creative city region policy. The Creative City-Regions Conference was organised by the Dublin Regional Authority and the Dublin Employment Pact in Dublin in October, 2007 to identify new best practise internationally in the development strategies of cities and regions in relation to their becoming significant centres for attracting, growing and keeping creative workers and creative industries. As a follow up, the Regional Authority is in the process of developing a competitiveness strategy for the region with a focus on innovation and enterprise. This will involve an analysis and examination of the needs and opportunities for the existing workforce; upskilling; the potential to attract and grow the creative class in the region; and the potential to increase both FDI, ODI and indigenous enterprise.
Waste & Energy
Dublin Local Authorities, through the Regional Waste Management offices, wish to develop a Business Materials Exchange programme to business and individuals that will seek to reduce waste by promoting the exchange of reusable commercial materials. This program will help reduce waste, extend the life of usable materials and improve economic performance and quality of life for participants. It is hoped that this programme will form one part of an industrial ecology ethos across the region. In addition, the Dublin Regional Authority in conjunction with the Mid-East Regional Authority expects to shortly begin the process of undertaking a Regional Bio-Energy Plan with the assistance of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
Socio-Economic Benchmarking
DRA has been asked to join with six other gloabl city regions - Barcelona, Fukuoka, Helsinki, Melbourne, Munich, and Stockholm - to become a part of the first-ever International Regions Benchmarking Consortium. To date the regions have undertaken an initial benchmarking data collation exercise of socio-economic indicators. It is foreseen that these data-sets will provide a means to measure the Region’s strengths and opportunities in terms of international competitiveness, the development of a knowledge economy and quality of life issues.
European Priorities
Policy Input
Where relevant, the DRA makes submissions to the EU on emerging policy and directives. In order to provide comments and opinions on EU policy from the perspective of the Dublin Region, the DRA is represented on the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR). To enhance its involvement in the CoR, the Authority undertook a number of EU focused projects in recent years to:
(1) directly respond to the EU Commission on EU policy approaches,
(2) highlight Dublin’s culture and traditions among the institutions and authorities of the EU, and
(3) establish partnerships with other EU city-regions.
Irish Sea Regions Platform
In 2007, the Dublin Regional Authority made a submission to the European Commission’s Maritime Policy Task Force in response to the Green Paper, Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union. Within its submission, the Authority responded to a number key questions posed by the Commission, for example,
• Should the EU have an integrated maritime policy?
• What mechanisms should be in place to ensure that new maritime development is sustainable?
• In what way should stakeholders be involved?
What are the principles and mechanisms that should underpin maritime spatial planning systems?
Full details on this, and other, submissions can be obtained from http://www.dra.ie
In conjunction with partners throughout the Irish Sea Region the Dublin Regional Authority has involved itself in preparing and assisting in proposals for a number of cross regional initiatives/projects. The Irish Sea Regions Platform (ISP), for example, provides the opportunity for all regions and sectors in and surrounding the Irish Sea and the Isle of Man, to work together to provide opportunities to, not only develop new projects, but also to be aware of developments in other sectors which may have a wide impact.
Peri-Urban relations
The Authority is also involved in a number of networks covering issues pertinent to the Dublin region. The “PURPLE” network, for example, was set up in 2004 and brings together the following regions - Catalunya, Flanders, Frankfurt Rhein/Main, Île de France, Mazovia, MHAL (Province of Limburg), Nord Pas de Calais, Regio Randstad, Rhône-Alpes, South East England, Stockholm, West Midlands - to work closely to maximise the advantages resulting from their location in proximity to large urban areas while minimising adverse impacts on landscape, the environment and heritage which characterises these areas. The Dublin Regional Authority joined the PURPLE Network in May 2007 with a view to maintain the diversity – resource and landscape, heritage and quality of life – of our own peripheral urban areas and to highlight that different policy solutions are needed for peri-urban areas to those already advanced for areas with more definite rural or urban characteristics.
Other Areas:
The Dublin region is also interested in working with other European regions on projects and initiatives that can add value to its efforts in addressing the above and other related challenges. Other key European priorities include:
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Spatial planning in metropolitan areas
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Enhancing regional competitiveness and innovation
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Developing regional research potential
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Social inclusion
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Sustainable urban transport
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Waste management
- Coastal erosion
The Regional Authority will continue to follow-up on existing and ongoing activities and hopes and expects to participate in the INTERREG IV and ESPON programmes, particularly through its involvement with the ISP and Manchester Enterprises respectively. The latter programme will involve an inter-regional study on urban agglomerations as key drivers of the economy.
In its role as secretariat to the Irish delegation to the CoR, the DRA assisted with the organsiation of a major Committee of the Regions' conference focused on SMEs, which took place in Athlone in September 2008. The event, entitled Supporting our SMEs – overcoming barriers to their development, focussed on European policies for delivering growth and jobs and the new Small Business Act for Europe.
The Authority has also assisted in the roll-out of Irish Cultural Programmes through the Irish Regions Office in Brussels throughout 2007 and 2008.
Example of EU Project from the Region
Project name: Strategies and Actions/Implementations for Flood Emergency Risk Management (SAFER)
EU Programme: INTERREG IIIB North West Europe
Project Description:
The SAFER project concerns four regions which have been severely hit by flooding in recent years: the Neckar catchment area (one of the tributaries of the Rhine), the Dublin region, the River Enrick and through Glen Urquhart in Scotland, and certain river catchment areas in Switzerland. The project aims to contribute to flood damage prevention in these four areas through:
Assembling and providing information on flood hazards (including extreme events) in the four areas (flood prone areas, flood depth, erosion);
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Developing and establishing advanced tools for emergency management;
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Setting up ‘flood partnerships’ composed of planners, decision-makers and potentially affected stakeholders in order to significantly mitigate damage that is likely to threaten the safety of people and property, through communication and preventive measures.
Although the project involves three thematic strands, the bulk of the project’s budget actually goes to data gathering and mapping of flooding risks.
Total cost: € 10,416,195
EU contribution: € 4,766,815
Contact:
Mr Tom Leahy
Dublin City Council,
Civic Offices
Wood Quay
Block 1, Floor 4
Dublin 8
Ireland
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