Balanced Regional Development

State Agencies
The implementation of sectoral policies impacting on rural areas under the responsibility of a
range of Government Departments and State Agencies will continue. The linking of local
priorities with sources of funding is particularly important given that the predominant flow of
public funds to rural areas follows a sectoral rather than an area-based route. However,
economic and social conditions in rural areas vary and the strategy set out in the White Paper
provides for a rural dimension to all Government policies to ensure that they are sensitive to
regional and rural needs. It is vital that the important contribution of the State Agencies to
economic and social development is incorporated into a coherent response to regional
development.

In accordance with the strategy for regional development, State Agencies, as appropriate, will
publish regional development plans. The plans will be based on the areas of the Regional
Authorities and will set out targets and performance indicators for the programming period
under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. The regional development plans of the State
Agencies will be integrated with the plans and strategies which are drawn up by the Regional
Assemblies, the Regional Authorities and the County Development Boards to encourage and
facilitate economic and social development.

Investment Incentives
As part of the policies to support regional development, the Government is committed to
examining the role of tax incentives for rural renewal in attracting investment and in
revitalizing rural areas. There is also a role for promoting Public Private Partnerships.
Consideration of proposals in the area of tax incentives will be carried out in the context of
evaluation of the success of the Rural Renewal Scheme (already in operation in Cos. Leitrim,
Longford and parts of Sligo, Cavan and Roscommon). The new Town Renewal Scheme will
also help to attract investment and revitalise rural areas over the next three years. Any new
regime will, of course, have to operate within the constraints imposed by compliance with EU
requirements in relation to competition policy and State Aids.
A range of incentives in the form of grant aid and other supports to investment in rural areas
will continue to apply under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006.
Regional development policy constitutes a complex range of policies and interrelationships
between urban and rural areas. The arrangements outlined above will

• Operate within a framework for spatial development for economic growth, social
cohesion and environmental sustainability which will be prepared in the context of the
National Development Plan, 2000-2006,
 • Ensure cross-compliance between program implementation and spatial planning
objectives, ensure the integration of the plans and strategies of the State Agencies,
County Development Boards, the Regional Authorities and the Regional Assemblies to
facilitate coherent and consistent regional development, and

• Allow rural and regional specific sustainable development options to be pursued in the
context of national policies.

Infrastructure
The provision and maintenance of an adequate level of infrastructure is central to the economic
and social development of rural areas and to the achievement of balanced regional
development. A modern infrastructure is essential if rural areas are to compete effectively for
inward investment and remain competitive for existing and new indigenous enterprise. It also
contributes to making rural areas attractive places in which to live and work.
The Government is committed to providing, within a strategic framework, the range of modern
infrastructure in rural areas which will promote sustainable economic growth and the
maintenance of the rural population. The Government will support, through funding under the
National Development Plan, 2000-2006, a program of investment in infrastructure, including
roads, rail, sewage, water, telecommunications and transport, in support of the regional
development approach in the White Paper. All options for ensuring that investment in
infrastructure takes place will be explored, including joint initiatives between the Government
and the private sector.

The institutional arrangements outlined will ensure that investment in infrastructure provision
and maintenance will be planned in a co-ordinated manner so as to create economies of scale
and scope in rural areas.

Access to Services
Social justice demands that rural communities be treated equitably in the provision of public
services. The Government is committed to providing essential public services in rural areas to
ensure a proper environment for economic development, promote social inclusion and support
dispersed viable rural communities.
In "A Government Strategy for Services" (1997), the Government set out its objectives for the
services sector as the establishment of a competitive business environment within which
enterprise and innovation would be facilitated. The main elements of the strategy are an
emphasis on competition policy, removal of unnecessary regulatory burdens, a more
competitive telecommunications environment and enhancement of the skills base.
However, rural areas often present difficult problems in service delivery due to diseconomies
of scale arising from dispersed or small populations. In more remote areas, particularly island
locations, specialist solutions must be found for the provision of essential services.
In 1996, arising out of the recommendation of the NESC contained in "New Approaches to
Rural Development" (1994), the Government launched a Pilot Program for the Delivery of
Integrated Public Services in areas of declining and dispersed population. The object of the
program was to develop models for the integrated delivery of public services and to test the
hypothesis that public service delivery could promote rural renewal.

The experience gained in the Pilot Program for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services in
relation to design and planning at the level of State agency or public body, integration and co-
ordination by State Agencies at the delivery stage, and the possibilities afforded by co-
operation between the public bodies and rural communities will be brought to the attention of
all publicly funded bodies for examination in the design and delivery of all public services. In
addition, a Code of Good Practice will be prepared for consideration by all State
Agencies/public bodies and for application in the preparation of County Strategies by the
County Development Boards in the context of public service delivery.

In recent years, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has extended
considerably the range of services which it provides. These services include Voluntary and
Community services, Money Advice and Budgeting Service, Back to Work and Education
initiatives. Along with the traditional services of the Department, these services are provided
through an extensive network of local offices. The Department aims to foster a more integrated
approach to service delivery and information provision which ensures access to a wide range
of services at the first point of contact. Closer working relationships have been developed at
local level with the Health Boards, Revenue Commissioners, FAS, local authorities and the
network of Citizens' Information Centers. Local initiatives to co-locate and co-ordinate services
are currently being piloted in a number of locations.

Local authorities are also decentralizing increasingly the delivery of their services to the main
urban centers in their areas and are developing ‘one-stop-shops’ in these locations for the
delivery of a range of public services. This trend is being encouraged by Government and is
assisted by significant financial support by the Minister for the Environment and Local
Government.
Insofar as local service provision is concerned, the preparation of the County Strategies by the
County Development Boards will provide considerable opportunities to identify and address
local needs in a partnership approach between service providers and the local community,
establish close liaison between the public agencies, and between the agencies and the
community, and develop models for integrated public service delivery. These arrangements
will ensure that quality, comprehensive State services will be available in rural areas.
In the context of the Government's overall commitment to investment in the provision of
essential public services in support of rural communities, the following areas are highlighted:
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Information and Communications Technology is opening up enormous possibilities for
business, social and cultural interactions between enterprises, communities and people. The
rapid development of Information and Communications Technology and increasing
convergence with the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors hold short-term prospects
of very positive benefits and can act as a catalyst for the development of rural areas. E-
commerce is creating a revolutionary change in how business is conducted.

Ireland's development as an Information Society is moving ahead rapidly. The provision of

nation-wide access to new services such as the Internet means that those living in rural areas
will be on an equal footing vis-à-vis their urban counterparts and will be able to participate
fully in the Information Society. For the purposes of enterprise development, the disadvantages
traditionally associated with a remote geographical location can be substantially redressed.
However, without the necessary investment, rural areas will be at a serious disadvantage in
availing of development opportunities.

The provision of broadband or high-speed telecommunications facilities, in particular, will

facilitate the regional distribution of new services in the rapidly developing e-commerce sector.
The enormous success which Ireland has enjoyed in the development of telemarketing can now
be replicated in relation to e-commerce activities provided over the Internet, both through the
attraction of inward investment and in the development of new indigenous business activities.
There is already evidence that indigenous businesses throughout the country are addressing a
global market through an effective presence on the Internet.

The dispersal of Information and Communications Technology to rural areas and the
exploitation of its potential will not happen without public support. The provision of services
necessitates the development of the requisite infrastructure, including fibre optic cable
networks and structures for the development of wireless technologies. However, policy must
recognize technology as an important contributor to development rather than as a factor that
will lead rural development in its own right.

The Irish telecommunications market is now fully liberalized, and a regulatory framework has
been established that ensures a competent, efficient, and effective service while encouraging
investment and providing market opportunities. Liberalization is generating keen competition
with lower tariffs and greater investment in high-tech infrastructure. There is ongoing
development of Ireland's broadband 'backbone' network and investment in the enhancement
and extension of the network in order to meet anticipated requirements.
The Government is committed, in the context of the overall policy framework outlined in the
White Paper, to ensuring that the necessary physical and telecommunications infrastructure is
provided to enable existing and new high-growth businesses to thrive. Incentives will be
provided for investment in Information and Communications Technology-related enterprise
activity, and comprehensive responses to education and training needs will be developed in
order to enable rural communities to avail of employment opportunities in new and existing
enterprises and also in new forms of work.
One of the priorities of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland is to encourage the development of
e-commerce activities and the take-up of Information and Communications Technology.
Enterprise Ireland offers a wide range of supports to firms in the software and international
services sector, while IDA Ireland is targeting overseas e-commerce, multimedia, and other
related sectors with a view to attracting suitable companies and establishing digital projects.

Over time, new technologies and the industries they support will become increasingly
important, and sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, agriculture, and aquaculture will
benefit from the application of knowledge-intensive production, processing, and organization.

The Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI) has recently published
Technology Foresight Ireland, An ICSTI Overview (1999). Technology Foresight is a process
for identifying technologies and the critical strategic decisions required to achieve the greatest
economic and social benefit. Technology Foresight Ireland was carried out on the basis of an
analysis of eight sectors, many of which, including Natural Resources (Agri-food, Marine, and
Forestry), are of crucial importance to the future of rural communities. The ICSTI will be
pursuing the recommendations and the strategic issues arising from each of the eight individual
panel reports with the relevant Departments and State Agencies.

The Government remains committed to the retention of the post office network and to its use
for the delivery of the most comprehensive range possible of State services to all citizens.
Delivery of social welfare payments will continue to be a substantial element of the services
provided by post offices in the future. The Government has decided also to develop the Post
Office network to provide a "one-stop-shop" service, and an Interdepartmental Committee has
been established to further this program.

Transport
While an extensive public transport system operates in Ireland, there are many areas where
services are not available due to low population density. The absence of an adequate public
transport service in all areas means that transport is a major contributing factor in
marginalization. Its availability plays an increasingly important role in accessing services such
as healthcare and in the social integration of people living away from service centers.
Given the low and dispersed population of many rural areas, innovative approaches to transport
provision are required and a structured approach is necessary to apply solutions at a local level.

Considerable work has been undertaken in recent years by the Area Partnerships and the
Community Groups funded by Area Development Management Ltd. (ADM) in operating pilot
schemes for the provision of local transport services and in identifying community based
responses to the provision of a transport service where public transport is not available. This
work is being co-ordinate by Area Development Management Ltd. under the Local
Development Program under the Operational Program for Local, Urban and Rural
Development, 1994-1999, and a number of models have been identified which can be applied
to most areas.
In the preparation of the County Development Strategy, each County Development Board will
carry out an audit of local transport needs and services as a priority and will identify, with the
relevant partners, the most appropriate co-ordination and delivery mechanism to ensure
effective local transport provision in its area.
In the context of funding proposals under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, to up-
grade public transport, the Government will have specific regard to transport requirements to
support rural development in order to reflect fully the "rural proofing" principles set out in the
White Paper.

Housing
To achieve the aim of a balanced rural population, planning policy should, as far as possible,
facilitate people willing to settle in rural areas, especially those wishing to remain in their own
areas of origin. At the same time as respecting the aspirations of the rural community, planning
policy must be sensitive to the conservation of the rural environment, including preservation
of natural beauty spots and natural habitats.

Local authority development plans set out the physical planning framework for their areas. The
Strategic Policy Committees which have been established within the local authority structure
and the County Development Boards through the preparation of the County Strategies will
facilitate linkages between the economic, social and physical planning processes. The new
structures will assist in resolving conflicts and in ensuring a more sustainable and inclusive
approach to planning, housing and other land use issues. The County Strategy will have regard
to the land use and zoning objectives set out in the County Development Plan of the local
authority which should facilitate integrated land use and zoning objectives through encouraging
the location, for instance, of commercial and residential development around existing towns
and villages where water and sewage facilities can be provided. By the same token, the County
Development Plan should be informed by the Strategy.
The Government response to the housing issue in rural areas will be framed in the context of
national policy on housing with with services and infrastructure provision on particular
reference to the integration of housing in rural arms the basis of the overall strategy of the
White Paper.
To meet expanding needs and to help deliver local authority housing more efficiently, the
Government has introduced a four year multi-annual local authority housing programme. This
program involving theprovision of 22,000 additional local authority houses will be equivalent
u) an increase of over one fifth of the existing local authority housing stock. The Government
is also committed to increasing voluntary housing output and is currently working towards
achieving an output target of 4,000 to 5,000 houses per annum. This increase in social housing
provision will have a substantial impact on lower income households in rural areas.
The Government recognizes that there are areas where particular factors such as strong demand
for holiday homes may be creating an affordability gap for house purchasers. The new
Affordable Housing Scheme is targeted primarily at major urban centers and their hinterlands.
However, provision has been made under the scheme to allow local authorities, where they are
satisfied that an affordability gap exists in an area due to factors such as demand for holiday
homes, to provide an affordable housing scheme in those areas.
The following key areas will also be addressed
• local authority housing and support for social housing will encourage developments in
villages and small towns which enable people to live in, or as close as possible to, their
own areas; local authorities will continue the programs currently available which are
targeted at assisting low income and other households to secure necessary
improvements in their housing and will continue also to develop strategies aimed at
tackling social segregation in housing;
• planning for services and infrastructure provision such as investment in sewage
treatment and water schemes and serviced land, will favor residential development in
villages and small towns; the retention of traditional, vernacular buildings and
architecture will be encouraged;
• support for rural resettlement programs will continue on the basis of the evaluation of
the outcome of nine pilot programs being funded currently by ADM Ltd in Area
Partnerships and Community Groups.
Childcare
The National Childcare Strategy, Report of the Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on
Childcare (1999), which was published by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
includes a focus on childcare in disadvantaged urban and rural communities. The Report states
that, in general, there is a low level of rural childcare service provision and that less choice is
available than in urban areas. Rural services are less able, therefore, to meet the needs of
particular groups including women, lone parents, the unemployed and children with disabilities
and special needs.
The Government has established an Interdepartmental Committee, chaired by the Department
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to evaluate, cost and prioritize the childcare proposals in
three reports: The Report of the Commission on the Family "Strengthening families for life"
(1998), the Report of the Forum on Early Childhood Education (1998) and the Report of the
Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare together with the relevant proposals in
the Government Program, An Action Program for the Millennium. The Interdepartmental
Committee will submit recommendations to Government before the end of the year.
Healthcare
Provision of, and access to, healthcare is a key issue in securing the quality of life of rural
communities and in the economic and social developmentof rural areas. At the same time, rural
areas, especially those with dispersed population, pose unique challenges for the management
and utilization of services.
The Government is committed to continuing to meet the challenges of healthcare service
provision in rural communities. The availability of health services at locations and in settings
that are designed to meet the needs of local rural communities involves, in many instances, the
upgrading of local health centers and, where appropriate, the provision of new facilities. Such
projects will continue to attract priority support from Health Boards and the Department of
Health and Children.
There is a need, also, to improve significantly community support structures for vulnerable
groups, such as the elderly, particularly those living in isolated areas. These services include
the provision of day care centers with adequate transport, home help services, paramedical
services. There is a need, also, to improve significantly community support structures for
vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, particularly those living in isolated areas. These services
include the provision of day care centers with adequate transport, home help services,
paramedical services at home and in the community as well as improvements in community
care nursing and social work services dedicated to vulnerable persons or special needs groups.
The provision of Primary Care Services is of key importance in rural communities given that
general practitioners are most frequently the first point of contact between the rural community
and healthcare providers. The provision of an appropriate general practitioner service to rural
areas is a key issue that the Primary Care Units of Health Boards are required to address on an
ongoing basis. The Rural Practice Allowance and innovative locum and rota arrangements will
be used to ensure that general practice in rural areas represents an attractive prospect for general
practitioners. Equally, grant aid will be targeted to ensure that such practitioners are wholly
supported in terms of developing their premises and increasing, beyond general practice alone,
the range of services they offer in their communities.
Information and Communications Technology has the potential to make an enormous
contribution to the delivery of the health services in rural areas. Accordingly, the role of
information technology will be evaluated fully and utilized, on an on-going basis, to ensure
that the effects of geographic isolation are minimized in terms of communication and
consultation between healthcare professionals. The ultimate objective is in improving access
to services both.
for the practitioner and the patient. In this regard, support and training for healthcare
professionals in IT matters will be provided in rural areas.
Given their regional basis, the Health Boards are ideally positioned to have regard to the
particular demographics of their areas and to manage the provision of services both in
accordance with the needs of their population and in the context of overall national goals. The
Boards will continue to build links with the communities they serve together with the voluntary
and other groups that reflect the desires and concerns of those communities.
The Government is also committed to developing multi-sectoral partnerships at local and
national levels in the area of environmental health.
Information
Distance is measured in spatial terms but it also includes remoteness in terms of access to
information, particularly among the marginalized sections of the community.
A wide range of Government Departments, State Agencies, public bodies, local authorities and
local development bodies contribute to the economic and social development of rural areas
through the implementation of a wide range of programs. Service provision at local level is an
important resource in rural communities from the point of view of facilitating access and
information. The Departments of Agriculture and Food and of Social, Community and Family
Affairs, in particular, have extensive networks of local offices throughout the country while the
delivery of healthcare and education also has a strong local presence. Decentralization of
administration and service provision, which has been an important element of Government
policy over several years, also provides employment and generates economic activity in rural
areas.
In order to provide a comprehensive pro-active information service in future, the Government
will

• publish through the 'lead' Department, every two years, a comprehensive directory of
State services available to rural communities, particularly the disadvantaged target
groups,

• establish a web-site with comprehensive information and an on-going update on current

developments,

• establish through the County Development Boards, local mechanisms to provide access
to, and information on, services to the rural community. Each County Development
Board will identify the information requirements in its area and determine, with the
relevant partners, the most effective and efficient mechanism for providing information
service, including consideration of and the establishment of a 'one stop shop for
information on all public services.