© 2008, International Centre for Local and Regional Development. All rights reserved.
Conference on Supporting Evidence-Informed Spatial Planning and Analysis—Towards the Development of Spatial Databases on the Island of Ireland
On November 15, 2007 in Dundalk, the ICLRD together with the Regional Studies Association, the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, the National Centre for Geocomputation and the All-Island Research Observatory held a conference on Supporting Evidence-Informed Spatial Planning and Analysis—Towards the Development of Spatial Databases on the Island of Ireland.
Attended by over a 100 delegates, the conference presented the findings of two earlier seminars on the kind of spatial indicators needed to assist in high quality analysis for evidence-based planning and policy. The seminars were held in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth and the
Presentations by leading academics and researchers were made on all-island indicators, data applications, maps and key issues around the type, scale and form of potential all-island datasets. Senior policy-makers offered comments on how these initiatives can support both policies and specific projects to foster cross-border co-operation in the areas of spatial planning, service delivery, economic competitiveness and investment strategies.
The conference and the workshops were undertaken in cooperation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Development in
The presentations, including a list of proposed indicators that the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) will begin tracking can be accessed below.
If you have any comments or suggestions on the indicators, the AIRO group would look forward to hearing from you. Please email Justin Gleeson, Project manager of the All-Island Research Observatory based in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth: justin.gleeson@nuim.ie.
Conference Presentations and Documents
Conference Programme
Priority Indicators for All-Island Mapping - Dr. Chris van Egeraat and Professor Rob Kitchen
Suggested Spatial Indicators
Data Sources
The All-Island Urban Clusters Study - Dr. Chris van Egeraat and Professor Des McCafferty
Modelling Health Services on the Island of Ireland - Dr. Ronan Foley, Martin Charlton and Dr. Patricia Clarke
Exploring a Co-operative Approach to Health Services - Dr. Patricia Clarke
Small Areas for the Republic of Ireland: Implications for All-Island Datasets - Martin Charlton
Informing Planning Policy and Practice: All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) - Justin Gleeson
Regional Studies Association Newsletter, Autumn 2007, Towards the Development of All-Island Spatial Indicators
The one-day conference on "Implementing a Framework for Collaborative Action: Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland" took place on Thursday, November 9th in Newry. As part of this event, the report Spatial Strategies on the
A key focus of the conference on November 9th was an examination of (a) the range of regional and local spatial planning initiatives for key development areas identified in the existing spatial strategies and (b) the role of the business community and private sector in inter-jurisdictional development.
A report on this event is currently being prepared by the ICLRD partners and will be available in early 2007.
Conference Presentations and Documents
Background and Purpose
Conference Programme
Introduction and Contextual Perspective - Professor James Walsh
ICLRD Report Findings and Recommendations - Professor Jim Berry and Mr. Brendan Bartley
Proposed Frameworks for Action - Mr. Mike Thompson and Mr. Niall Cussin
Financier's Perspective on Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Provision - Mr. Henry Elvin
Developer's Perspective on Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Provision - Dr. Gerard O'Hare
Managing Growth Through Spatial Planning: Learning from International Experience - Mr. John Driscoll
The Role of
Institutional Perspective - Mr. Micha
Spatial Strategies on the
The report Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland, published in May 2006, was undertaken on behalf of InterTradeIreland by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD). It calls on the two governments, North and South, to acknowledge the major challenges faced by their respective economies and to respond urgently by establishing a new framework for collaborative action building upon the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) for
Download report
Strategic Roads Infrastructure Planning and Provision in the
Completed in September 2005, the purpose of the study was to assist the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) to examine border regional transport infrastructure in the context of the new emphasis on strategic spatial planning and other recent developments that affect opportunities to improve strategic transport infrastructure in the region.
Download report here
Housing Conference 08 in Cork
"Shared Future - Shaping the Fabric of Our Communities"
Conference of the Isles, April 24-25, 2008
Creating sustainable communities is a major challenge facing housing programmes on the island of Ireland, the UK and elsewhere. The 08 Conference of the Isles was held in Cork and featured speakers offering interesting case examples on promoting sustainable communities. ICLRD helped to sponsor this event as part of its wider action research programme in sustainable communities. Emerging findings from the ICLRD's study were presented at the conference. More information can be found on the conference by downloading the pdf provided by the conference organisers.
Download conference brochure
Launch of The Atlas of the Island of Ireland
On the occasion of the International Centre for Local and Regional Development's (ICLRD) third annual conference on January 17, 2008, ICLRD and the All-Island Research Observatory launched The Atlas of the Island of Ireland, a set of detailed full color maps and cartograms of varied socio-economic indicators across the island. Justin Gleeson, Rob Kitchin,
Pamphlet and order form for The Atlas of the Island of Ireland
ICLRD Third AnnualConference: Fostering Co-Operation for Local and Regional Development through Cross-Border Spatial Planning
The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) third annual conference was held in collaboration with InterTradeIreland at the Armagh City Hotel on
The ICLRD’s Third Annual Conference invited international planning, economic and community development experts to examine how cross-border spatial strategies can foster greater co-operation for development North and South. The conference was attended by 143 delegates representing local and central government, cross-border agencies, the private sector and community organisations.
The conference, supported by cross-border business development body InterTradeIreland, was opened jointly by Batt O’Keeffe TD, Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, and Conor Murphy MP MLA, Minister for Regional Development.
“Sustainable communities transcend the border and we must develop and implement initiatives to harness this potential,” said Mr O’Keeffe. “The collaborative spatial framework between the Regional Development Strategy and the National Spatial Strategy provides the over-arching mechanism to deliver, and can set the context for thinking and working together.
“The Irish Government has placed the NSS centre-stage by setting it as the main plank on which to base future investment decisions. Moreover, many sectoral programmes are now prioritising investment in the nine NSS gateways and nine hubs to build critical mass in these cities and towns.”
Mr. Murphy said he could clearly see the benefits of co-operation in the provision of infrastructure and services to citizens – by working together, both governments could provide better health care, better prepare young people for work, and better protect and manage the environment.
“There are considerable growth challenges North and South, but there are many similarities in the trends that we measure,” he went on. “Solutions will require very positive attitudes, long term planning and co-ordinated actions if we are to achieve long term economic success coupled with high quality of life.
“Our over-arching aim is to focus and harness economic development, regeneration and prosperity within a just, peaceful and stable society. We will do this by addressing head-on decades of underinvestment, regional imbalance and inequality so everyone can enjoy a better quality of life now and in the future.”
Aidan Gough, Strategy and Policy Director of InterTradeIreland, identified enhancement of our global competitiveness through co-operation as one of the organisation’s key objectives.
He said: “Joined-up regional and local planning initiatives, along with targeted investments and a programme of spatial planning research, are paramount in promoting economic competitiveness, aiding sustainable development, improving services and supporting the mobility of a growing population on the island.”
Among the key issues and research papers presented at the all-day conference were how to implement and finance a collaborative spatial framework, proposals and project areas which can deliver on a cross-border sub-regional strategy for Newry-Dundalk, research and recommendations on how cross-border towns can be reconnected and revitalised; and the role of housing in building sustainable communities.
Professor Rob Kitchin, director of the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis, National University of Maynooth, also introduced The Atlas of the
Pamphlet and order form for the Atlas of the Island of Ireland
Conference Report
Conference Programme
Speech by Minister Batt O'Keeffe, TD
Speech by Minister Conor Murphy, MP MLA
Sustainable Balanced Communities - Nicolas Retsinas
Introduction to Fostering Cross-Border Cooperation Panel - Dr. Francois Vigier
Financing Cross-Border Collaboration - David Gavaghan
Financing Cross-Border Co-operation - Dermot Nolan, Department of Finance
Newry-Dundalk Twin City - Professor Jim Berry and Dr. Chris Van Egeraat
The Newry-Dundalk International Services Zone - Dr. Chris Van Egeraat and Professor Jim Berry
Dundalk 2020: Sustainable Energy Community Project - Declan Meally
The Example of the Energy Self-Sufficient City of Güssing - Declan Meally
Mourne-Cooley-Gullion: Releasing the Potential - Martin Carey
Introduction: Small Connected Towns in Cross-Border Areas - Caroline Creamer and Neale Blair
Study: Small Connected Towns in Cross-Border Areas - Caroline Creamer and Neale Blair
Kilty Cashel Project - Elish Gray
Bristol and Leipzig: Driving the Sustainable Communities Agenda - Professor Peter Roberts
Sustainable Communities on the Island of Ireland - Paddy Gray
Housing and Land Issues on the franco-swiss and franco-spanish borders - Olivier Denert
Closing Comments - Alastair Adair