NDP/NSS- Regional Perspective Presentation By: Deirdre Scully, Regional Planning Guidelines Implementation Officer for Dublin and Mid-East Regional Authorities.
Presentation Format RPGs- Current status What does the NDP offer for RPGs Key Challenges for Implementing the RPGs Role of MOLAND
RPGs- Current Status Adopted in 2004, core objective is delivering the National Spatial Strategy Since then, all City/County Plans have been adopted Population figures have been revised upwards in 2007 Implementation has overall been positive. Output of housing within the metropolitan area has increased significantly in last 3 years, with the Hinterland expanding at a slower level. The majority of infrastructure projects listed are completed or underway. Economic growth in the Hinterland appears to have been slower than hoped for, though no definitive information exists as yet on this.
RPGs- Current Status RPGs are currently monitored by a Steering Committee of Managers, 4 elected members (the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach of each Region), and key representatives from CIE, IDA, DTO, Enterprise Ireland, DoEHLG, DoT, NRA; and the elected members of both Regional Authorities, who meet on a twice yearly basis. All documentation is available on www.rpg.ie Regional Authority staffing minimal- rely on Council resources Review of the RPGs is likely to commence in early 2009
NDP & RPGs At its core, the RPGs is a settlement strategy template for each council to follow as much as possible and a lobbying document for investment by Central Government and key State bodies to seek that investment is made in the key projects which support the proposed settlement strategy. In its most simplest terms, the NDP is a statement of intention regarding central government spending and the first NDP to be adopted by Cabinet since both the NSS and the RPGs came into being.
NDP & RPGs Has the NDP included the GDA RPG shopping list? The public transport projects included in NDP and as previously announced under Transport 21, are all sought in the RPGs. Almost all of the projects identified are progressing. Of the 41 Road projects identified in the RPGs, 10 are still at initial planning stage. Included in this 10 is the Dublin Outer Orbital Route, which is seen by the RPGs as critical to supporting economic growth in the Hinterland. The delivery of this route was not included in the NDP. For Water Supply 4 of the 18 projects are still in early stages, and for waste water 8 of the 19 projects have not yet gone beyond planning. No individual projects identified in NDP NDP includes identified general funds for heritage, amenity, sport, social inclusion and rural development
NDP & RPGs However this NDP is not clear cut on individual projects as previous NDPs- not clear exactly which projects have been included under various programme heads and no detailed operational programmes are to be produced NDP as written is based on estimates of continuing strong economic growth- including high levels of tax income from all sectors including housing. Plan is not clear which projects are likely to slip off the agenda if monetary constraints impact on Government spending- i.e. which ones are priority. If an economic slow-down is experienced which region will lose out?
NDP- What is and is not in it for the GDA Roads Sub-Programme- Completion of the M50 Upgrade by 2010 (with barrier free tolling by 2008) Completion by 2010 of major inter-urban routes between Dublin and other Gateway centres Feasibility and planning work on Eastern By-Pass and Outer Orbital Route, but fails to make any funding provision No details on road improvements below national roads programme or within the M50 Public Transport- Transport 21 projects will be advanced No indication of when Dublin Transport Authority will be operational
NDP- What is and is not in it for the GDA Air Transport Sub-Programme 1.8 billion for improving air transport, no specific allocation to Dublin Airport. Plan states that further additional terminal capacity at Dublin Airport is likely to be required by the middle of the next decade and planning will commence during the Plan period Ports Sub-Programme 480 million for investment in upgrading strategic port facilities and regional harbours. A study of the role of Dublin Port is included Environmental Sub-Programme No specific measures highlighted, SLI will be continued The Plan states that the Dublin Gateway will benefit from further investment in environmental services infrastructure
NDP- What is and is not in it for the GDA Enterprise, Science & Innovation 20 billion, no breakdown but due to higher concentration of educational institutions in the GDA it is likely the area will get a high proportion of this investment Enterprise Development Sub-Programme Focus likely to be on stimulating and supporting businesses outside of the GDA, in line with EI s and IDA Irelands regional strategies. EU State aid restrictions do not permit investment aid to be granted to companies in the GDA. Tourism Sub-Programme 800m- focussed on international marketing, product development and infrastructure and training and HR Only specific project for GDA is the National Conference Centre.
NDP- What is and is not in it for the GDA Schools Modernisation and Development Sub-Programme 4.5 billion identified for programme, no detail. Is a strong need for a large portion of this to be invested in GDA to meet population growth, the necessary provision for SDZs is mentioned Higher Education Sub-Programme As with the innovation sub-programme, the GDA should benefit due to 3 rd level institutions Grangegorman development is named as being progressed during life of Plan. Sports, Culture Heritage & Community Infrastructure Abbotstown and Landsdowne Road redevelopments included New Concert Hall and National Theatre specifically mentioned
NDP- What is and is not in it for the GDA Social Inclusion No regional breakdown but the programme funds resources centres, community development projects, voluntary groups, and community policing projects- a large of which is likely to benefit the GDA due to the high levels of need and urban deprivation pockets Strengthening of RAPID Programme Social Inclusion units in all Councils by 2008 Social and Affordable Housing delivery- a large portion of which will benefit the GDA Rural Development Some of this funding programme should benefit the rural areas of the GDA- including the 2 CLAR areas as well as funding smaller infrastructure investment. However how much to each region and which are priority is not available Gateway Innovation Fund
Key Challenges- Political Structures Fragmentation of Governorship:- Two Regional Authorities 7 City/County Councils 8 Town Councils Two key Government Departments- DoEHLG, DoT, with numerous other Government Depts also important to planning policy Numerous Transport bodies DTO, CIE group of companies, RPA, NRA and Councils. Weakness in resources to coordinate at regional level
Key Challenges Co-ordination of Key Infrastructure Delivery:- To cater for the level of growth envisaged for the Greater Dublin Area a very large range of new infrastructure is needed For key new housing areas, this new infrastructure is very much interrelated and for land to come on stream requires systematic coordination of many new elements of infrastructure. As a result investments made may not deliver on the ground unless an overall integrated approach is taken regarding phasing of different elements of infrastructure projects. Need to model constraints and steer investment so that lands come available on a continuous stream in the best suited locations
Key Challenges Transport Delivery:- Multiple agencies involved in planning and delivery; establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority moving much slower than initially announced adding to lack of clarity as to where integration of approaches can happen Lack of integration and an overall vision between land-use and transport can cause problems between the many parties involved with competing agendas/targets Actions of Councils regarding planning policy hang in balance of public transport coming on stream Local Transport issues- mobility management, local bus services for newly developing areas
Key Challenges Cross-Boundary Co-operation Legacy of white-edged Development Plans- nothing exists outside of the County/City, both for Executive and Council Chamber, competing for resources and investment Recent years has seen progress on mutual co-operation- joint Sc. 49 Schemes for public transport, greater consultation during Development Plan preparation, coming together to fund major projects such as GDSDS. Need for greater links above the informal contacts and to encourage a wider perspective beyond the county/city area particularly around amenity issues, and social infrastructure
Key Challenges Monitoring Progress:- Serious problem with availability of regular, good quality information on all aspects of implementation of the RPGs Particularly a problem with employment growth in counties and/or towns, environmental information on quality of protected sites and other elements of heritage protection As the Guidelines date, the delivery infrastructure being monitored becomes less relevant as new challenges emerge Production of qualitative and quantitative monitoring information is not a priority
Rising to the Challenge 7 Managers now meet regularly as a group to examine important issues for the two Regions RPG meetings increased contact between Councils at Regional level at Director and Senior Planner grades Growth in cross-county projects LUTS for Bray area, Liffey Valley Park project for example- create mid-management cross county teams to deliver and encourage mutual co-operation to benefit of each authority Currently developing GIS mapping of Housing land in the GDA using DTO as host for information However, greater integration and joined up approaches are needed to build a culture of seeing the GDA as a City-Region that needs to work together in order to be successful.
MOLAND- Role for RPGs Information coming from MOLAND could facilitate a clearer picture of how the GDA is performing and allow for evaluation of policy approaches adopted The lack of any strong GIS tools of the extended Greater Dublin area, where patterns are seen extending across the Regions, is a constraint in encouraging stronger Regional perspectives in policy development The development of a Regional scale model gives a greater sense of how all of the key issues in planning are inter-related and extensive in their impact- it should help with undertaking the SEA process in policy development particularly at County level where sources of environmental information are weak and in promoting the importance of implementing the RPGs Project if successful could have critical importance when new review process begins for the RPGs both in setting a framework for evaluation of previous plan and in developing the Environmental Report and monitoring required