EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - National Urban Policy of Ireland

National Urban Policy of Ireland

Introduction

In Ireland the degree of urbanisation is low. The principal component of urban policy is the promotion of urban renewal and redevelopment.

Compared to other parts of Europe, Ireland is very sparsely populated. Dublin with 1 million inhabitants has a very large percentage of the republic's population of 3.6 million. In Ireland, where rural and small town values are cherished, large scale urbanisation has been an unintended by-product of economic growth and modernisation. During the 1990s and the early 2000s, Ireland experienced unprecedented social, economic and demographic change which has been taking place in the absence of any pro-active, coherent urban policy. The result is a wide range of national programmes.

Description

To create order in the country's urban policy, Urban Renewal Schemes were introduced in Ireland in October 1985. In 1986, areas were designated in each of the five cities; Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. The core objectives of Urban Renewal schemes were to promote urban renewal and redevelopment by promoting investment by the private sector in construction and reconstruction of buildings in designated inner city areas. The Urban Renewal Scheme was later extended to include areas in many of Ireland's major towns. The new Urban Renewal Scheme of 1999, which benefits 5 cities and 38 towns, represents a more targeted approach to the award of urban renewal incentives.

Since joining the European Union in 1973 Ireland has received over EUR 17 billion in EU Structural and Cohesion Funds support to end 2003. Under the current programming period 2000-2006, Ireland receives EUR 3.35 billion from the Structural Funds. The Cohesion Fund contributed EUR 586m to Ireland during the period 2000-2003. With the strengthening of export market growth, GDP has rebounded to 4 1/4 percent in 2004.

CURRENT THEMES

The National Development Plan, the largest investment plan ever drawn up for Ireland, sets out the plan for economic and social development over a six year period, 2000-2006. The Plan lays the foundation for future development in the country via multi-annual investment in five key areas, the five major towns and cities in Ireland:

Spatial development: The government prepared a National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020, aiming to secure a better and more rational spatial development pattern. The strategy is based on a more balanced position of the Greater Dublin Area (four local authority areas comprising the Dublin urban region) in relation to other regions. Another focus is the designation of 13 gateway and 11 hub cities. "Gateways" provide the necessary scale of services, population and infrastructure to increase the economic attractiveness of every region of the country in addition to Dublin. "Hub" towns are then expected to provide a link between the gateways and rural areas and to have a strategic role in the development of the immediate areas around them.
Cooperation: Cities develop and maintain in cooperation with local authorities, relevant Departments, agencies and other relevant institutions, targeted and integrated urban renewal programmes. These programmes aim at the economic, social and sustainable regeneration of such areas.
Infrastructure: City programmes and plans include a large number of strategic infrastructure projects, which will do much to facilitate intra-urban movement and improve the quality of life.

ORGANISATION

The Ministry of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government coordinates urban policy at the national level:

The National Development Plan, NDP, has three Interregional Operation Programmes, two multi-sectoral Regional Operational Programmes and the Peace Programme. The NDP includes only publicly funded programmes.
The Regional Operational Programmes cover a wide range of initiatives at the regional and local level. Regional areas are designated by order of the Ministry of the Environment, with the consent of the Minister for Finance under the Urban Renewal Act, 1986.
The New Urban Renewal scheme is based on the concept of Integrated Area Plans, IAPs, prepared by local authorities.
The Urban Renewal programmes are provided through the regional Operational Programmes of the NDP and a wide array of tax-led renewal schemes.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Urban policy is mainly directed towards the five major cities. The Five Major Initiatives to support the revitalisation of core areas in the cities Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford are also aimed at the wider urban area.
Urban Improvements Measures are made available to local authorities for environmental upgrading and streetscape improvements. The aim is to improve the physical environment of towns in order to attract and sustain an enterprise base.
The Living Over The Shop Scheme, LOTS, was introduced in 2001 in the five major cities to secure investment to tackle the problem of vacant storey space over commercial premises in certain streets.
The Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, SSPPR, 1995-1999 and Peace II Operational Programme 2000-2004 were designed to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote urban and rural regeneration.
The Integrated Area Urban Renewal Scheme has provided tax relief incentives in certain deprived areas. This tax relief is available for owner-occupier and rented residential accommodation situated within a part of an Integrated Plan area.

Contact info

The Department of the Environment and Local Government
Press and Information Office

Publication date

21/12/2005

Links

The Department of the Environment and Local Government

Document type

policy

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords