Post on 23-Dec-2015
Dublin REGION
Well developed urban based economy High per capita income; 10% higher than EU average High standard of living High population density Low unemployment Advanced technology and infrastructure High productivity levels Dominates trade Inward investment Seat of government
Characteristics
Dublin Region: The smallest but most populous region in Ireland.
Physical: Mostly flat but to south rises into Dublin mts.
Drained by the Liffey, tolka, dodder & includes a low lying coast.
Mainly limestone, so permeable
Climate:
Cool temperate oceanic; warmer and drier than western region
Temp 5°C to 6°C in winter & 16°C in Summer,
4 hours sunshine per day & 800mm rainfall pa… half that of the West of Irl. Due to rain shadow effect (Dublin Mts receive more rain due to altitude)
270 day growing season so crops ripen earlier than rest of countries
Frost has less effect due to coastal location
Soils: Mainly brown earth…. Humus formed from decaying deciduous forests.
Deep fertile soil, mainly arable (growing crops).
Also alluvial soils from the local rivers e.g. Liffey
Highly productive, ideal for market gardening e.g. Rush
Primary activities:
Agriculture: Has 1,500 farms (150,000 nationally) Produces 11% of Irelands wheat & 15% of our potatoes.
Farm incomes 40% higher than average
Highly mechanised and intensive
Specialise in market gardening because:
Close to the sea… less risk of frost
Drier & more sunshine… easier harvest crop
Flat terrain & good soil…. Easy for mechanisation
Large urban market (1 million pop) nearby
High land value requires intensive farming for high returns.
Farm output is high and meets demand of large wealthy urban market
Age profile of farmers is lower than in west
Farmer educated and have market orientated and scientific approach
More than half irish greenhouses located in north county dublin
Agricultural land under threat from urban sprawl
This is proof that physical economic & human processes interact in farming
Sheep farming important in Dublin mts.
Fishing: Howth & Skerries are important fishing ports. Mainly demersal fishing (lower depths),
Howth is the 3rd largest port in Ireland (2008 worth 8.5m)
Nearby skerries worth 2.3m
Dublin bay prawns make up 40% irish exports
Fishing is declining due to overfishing and aquaculture is limited due to pollution
1960 35% of Irish fish landed in Dublin ports in 2000 down to 3%
Less than 1% of pop. of Dublin are involved in Primary activity.
Secondary Activities
15% of pop. involved in secondary sector, higher than national average
Contains 25% (1200) of manufacturing plants in Ireland
Outputs 28% of Irelands total & employs 63,000 people.
Varies from brewing & tobacco to health care & electronics production.
Wages & ind. growth are higher than the national average.
Dublin region attracts manufacturing sector because:
Nodal point, routeways, rail, air and Irelands main port…. ease of access to raw material & components from abroad
Direct government investment, 60% of investment in 1990’s was in Dublin
Low corporate tax rate 12.5% V UK where it is 28%
Large pop… large market for goods
Large labour force…. many educated to third level attract knowledge based MNC’s (80% of third level colleges here)
Excellent infrastructure…. road, rail & airport…. access to countrywide markets
Variety of services…. design, advertising, accounting, back up & spin off ind.
Main industries include engineering & metal products, including electronic engineering.
Print industry is also very strong. Emphasis is on the consumer sector due to large local market. (Irish Independent)
Modern growth Industries, internet technology e.g. Google, Pharmaceutical (Pfizer) and computer software (Intel)
Also traditional industries such as brewing i.e. Guiness locate inside city limits due to proximity of port and labour force
Newer Industries: Locate in industrial estates & business parks… due to zoning polices. Need space & access. Employ locally & reduce commuting in the city. Easy access by M50 and close to large labour pool
Sattelite Towns ideal for these new industries:
More space for future expansion e.g. Pfizer
Biopharmaceutical in Clondalkin, just off the M50
95% of employees have a 3rd level qualifications
Employs over 1000 people
Invested 640m euro in research in Ireland
Dublin is Europe’s largest centre for ICT
5 of worlds to ten software companies located there
Including: Amazon, Ebay, Google, Intel, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft
Over 800 foregin companies, 350 are american
Cause for concern with recent downturn, 30,000 jobs lost in 2009 (40% of Irish total)
Tertiary Sector
84% employed in this sector…. entertainment, health, education, retail.
Urban redevelopment along docks by Customs House Docks Development authority. International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) built to create 7,500 jobs in 5 years.
Achieved due to
Irelands advanced telecommunications technology
Highly skilled finance & computer graduates
Attracted foreign investment due to cheaper land price than other European cities.
Attracted major international financial institutions due to marketing success… employs 7,000.
Docks developed due to spin off industries of hotels, catering, stationery, offices & construction.
Telecommunications: Dublin a leader in European call centres. Telesales commerce located in business parks like Blackrock & Sandyford.
City West business park (1990) was Dublin's first out of town Corporate business campus.
It is now the National Digital Park…. a hub for high tech communications & e-commerce…. broadband allowing voice, video & data transfer at low cost & high speed.
Dublin has 19 out of 21 data centres of e-commerce nationally.
Tourism: Attracts many tourists for sporting & cultural events & seen as a weekend break city. (over 3 million pa)
90% of all flights to Ireland land in Dublin
Dubln attracts 27% of Ireland visitors and earns approx 1b from tourism
Tourism Thrives because:
Government involvment – in leisure and cultural attractions
City council – pedestrianised streets e.g. Grafton St.
Well developed accommodation
Failte Ireland promotes it abroad – 2003 europes 3rd most popular city destination
Transport:
Most efficient transport system in Ireland
Dublin port handles 50% of Irelands port traffic
Dublin airport handled 20.9m passengers in 2009, 2010 Terminal 2 opened
Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART
Serious Traffic congestion – avg city speed 14km per hour
New towns like Tallaght & Clondalkin were developed as low density urban sprawl between 1970 & 2000. This led to a dependence on car travel since the rail network was not integrated.
Planner now began to integrate housing planning & transport:
City development will be apartments & high density housing
Expand present towns with integrated rail links.
Transport initiatives include:
Dubln Port Tunnel 2006
M50 upgraded 2007
QBC – Quality Bus Corridors
€3 billion investment in LUAS.
Expand DART & suburban rail links.
Proposed metro system at a cost of €7 billion.
Dublin has 7 local authorities & an integrated plan and single authority is required to plan for the future transport network.
Urban sprawl: Pop is moving from the city centre to the suburbs…. doughnut fashion. 1971 city had 54% of pop… By 1996 34% & continues to fall… 30% by 2011. Projects to curtail this include the docklands rejuvenation with housing for 25,000.
M50 built as a by pass now the city’s main traffic thoroughfare.
Planners, under the National Spatial Strategy aim to promote gateway towns throughout the country with 3rd level colleges & science parks… Limerick, Galway, Sligo.
State agencies no longer offer aid to firms setting up in Dublin.
Govt. decentralisation…. aim to move Govt departments to regional towns like Ennis & Castlebar.
1.3 million pop 1990’s migrant attracted to area – 63,000 Increase in younger population – young and skilled Educational attainment not evenly spread – below
average attend college (50.8% V 55%) Multi-cultural city, different religions Foregin national account for 8% of pop This group has helped regenerate inner city Not sure if ghettos will be created (have to wait and
see)
Human Processes
Dublin contains 30% of Irish pop Sprawl limited south by mountains and north by airport Expanded west As people leave city centre it forms a doughnut shape Degenration of inner city,n urban rejuvenation projects e.g.
National Convention Centre and Grand Canal Theatre New Towns bulit e.g. Tallaght to counter Urban sprawl Greenbelts inbetween, but these are being eaten up by city Adamstown developed in west dublin – 25,000 people, high rise
to fit european model Govt policy of decentralisation and gateways to halt development
but policy has failed
Urban Rural Development
Expanded rapidly since 1950 – now influences large part of east of country – wicklow, Kildare, Meath
Vikings in 9th Century Bridging point, centre of trade, primate Focus of road and rail 1.6 million, 1971-35.7%, 46%-2020 Leader in terms economic performance Centre of government, headquarters of private companies 1970’s uncontrolled expansion, built Blanchardstown 1990’s people left city, due to higher house prices, greater wealth
and higher car ownership 3 county councils: Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown, Fingal, South County
Dublin NSS – develop vacant land, use existing buildings,move older
people to smaller houses to make large houses available for families
Growth of Dublin City