Engineers Ireland launch joint report on Ireland's Infrastructure needs in 2030
Release date: Monday, 1 March 2010
Ireland’s infrastructure development should focus on the eight principal city regions, according to a study launched today. The report, “Infrastructure for an island Population of 8 million”, estimates that the population of the island will reach 8 million in the 2030s, compared with six and a quarter million today. It projects that by then 90% of the island population will be living in the eight principal City Regions comprising an area of about 65 km from the centre of each city.
Jointly prepared by Engineers Ireland, the Irish Academy of Engineering and commissioned by InterTradeIreland, the study outlines the intense international competition for the knowledge based industry of the future. This industry, which will provide the island with a high standard of living, will only locate in regions with a high level of infrastructure. Ireland’s infrastructure at present is well below that of its international competitors. World class infrastructure can best be provided in a cost efficient way with an urbanised population (towns with at least 1500 people) and in cities with high density. On the island of Ireland this can best be achieved by concentrating on eight City Regions with 90% of the island’s population according to the study. The performance of the City Regions will determine the overall competitiveness of the island. They must each be of top international standard appropriate to their scale. All infrastructure development undertaken in the interim should have this goal in view.
On being presented with the study, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD welcomed the initiative by the engineering profession in undertaking this valuable independent evidence-based research to determine the infrastructural requirements of the island of Ireland in the decades ahead. The report will be of considerable assistance to Government in determining how an internationally competitive island economy can be progressed in a sustainable manner into the future.
Director General of Engineers Ireland John Power acknowledged the contribution made by all the organisations involved and the importance of the study. “It is clear that there is still an acute infrastructure deficit in Ireland but this study provides a framework that can help the Government to direct funds to where maximum return on investment will be provided. On behalf of Engineers Ireland, I would like to thank the Irish Academy of Engineering and InterTradeIreland for their contribution towards what is a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the steps Ireland needs to take to ensure it takes its place amongst the most advanced economies of the world.”
Michael Hayden, President of the Irish Academy of Engineering said that “The report offers an independent assessment of how the limited capital resources of the island can be applied to the infrastructure required to yield the greatest competitiveness benefits over the coming decades.”
The study states the continuation of increasing urbanisation and higher density of population in cities will allow the delivery of first class infrastructure making the best use of scarce economic resources and make possible the delivery of better transport, health, and education, broadband and cleaner energy and allow for social connectedness and sustainable living. High quality connectivity will be required both within and between the eight City Regions.
The greatest density of population will be on the Dublin- Belfast Corridor which will have a population of 4 million people. For the first time, the population of the Corridor will be comparable to that of some of the larger urban zones in Europe. However, to achieve the benefits of comparable economies of scale, and to increase substantially its attractiveness for inward investment the Corridor will need strong interconnectivity through fast and efficient transport services including top class air connectivity and access to ports. It must foster linkages between businesses assisted by world class broadband communications, and close liaison between universities and industry as well as highly developed education, health, and cultural services. It will generate higher incomes per capita, and be a European scale motor for the economic development of the whole island.
A South West Corridor, with lower population density and a combined population of about 2 million linking the cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway, will have similar advantages and requirements. It has a leadership role in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biomedical, and agriculture.
The development of Dublin Airport, complemented by Belfast International, as an international hub to provide worldwide connectivity for business on the island will provide the economies of scale which will be a destination for feeder services and make possible frequent flights to the fast growing markets of China, India, Russia, and Brazil.
The study examines the infrastructural requirements of the eight City Regions in relation to transport, energy, water, waste, climate change, information technology, enterprise, engineering for health, and to the opportunities for integration of infrastructure development with a view to less cost and higher efficiency.
Finally, in an era of very scarce financial resources the use of innovative financing to fund infrastructure development is explored. This includes greater private sector involvement in the provision of infrastructure, and the possible establishment of an island infrastructure bank to provide long term finance with participation from the private and public sectors.