Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Rural Regions Dr Patricia O’Hara

Western Development Commission

► State agency ► Seven-county Western Region ► DCRAGA ► Strategic remit ► WR mainly rural – 77% outside Gateways & Hubs

Presentation Outline

► Key trends in rural regions ► Challenges and opportunities ► WDC experience in rural development action ► Lessons from practice ► Research needs ► Policy approaches

Challenges: Changing Economic Structures

► Regional variation in output and incomes ► Dependence on primary sectors, construction and local service jobs ► Spatial concentration in agriculture ► Industrial structure – how to move from old to new; innovation and ‘knowledge’ ► Skills pool ► Infrastructure limitations

Challenges: Social Changes

► Rural areas ’multi-functional’ and very diverse ► Population growth and changing social mix ► Value of rural lifestyle ► Uneven spread and quality of services ► Changing role of rural towns ► New forms of social exclusion and social isolation

Challenges for Policy

► Impact of ‘global forces’ - deregulation, competitiveness, ► Cities increasingly seen as ‘engines of growth’ – ‘critical mass’ , clusters, ‘counterbalances’ ► Need to ‘prove’ value and measure impact - lack of robust ‘evidence’ and indicators ► Planning and sustainability issues ► Cross government coherence ► Top-down coordination

Opportunities

► In over 1/3 of OECD countries, a rural region has the highest employment creation ► Assets of heritage, amenities, renewable energy ► Diversification of farming – new products and processes, organics, food niches, local markets etc ► Businesses large and small are thriving but must have infrastructure ► Innovation and the Creative sector ► Appropriate policy systems and innovative service delivery using ICT

Net cumulative job creation in agency assisted firms 2002-2006 –Western Region and State

2,000 1,808 1,500 1,320 1,000 500 Western Region State -500 -1,000 -454 -727 Change 2002-2006 Foreign Ow ned Change 2002-2006 Irish Ow ned

WDC and Rural Tourism

►

Blueprint for Tourism Development in the West: An Action Plan for Rural Areas

► Western Development Tourism Programme established. Outputs include: ► Green Box – Econ Tourism (cross border) ► Walking in the West ► Tourism Taste Trail – blueprint ► Training – cross border ► Super-region concept

Organic Agri-Food

►

Blueprint for Organic Agri Food Production in the West

Outputs: • Atlantic Organics: • New products developed under Rossinver Organics brand Western Organic Network: Network of 160 producers;

Renewable Energy

►

To Catch the Wind: Potential for Community Ownership of Wind Farms in Ireland

• WDC facilitating a pilot project between community and private developer using a community investment vehicle ►

Wood Energy Strategy & Action Plan

• • • Opportunity to exploit for job and wealth creation, Reduction on reliance on imported fuels Environmentally friendly and sustainable energy source

WDC Investment Fund

► €27m invested in 75 projects ► 58% outside hubs and gateways ► Fund revolving ► Strong interest ► Successful hi-tech firms e.g. Eire Composites, Cora Systems, ► Community Investment e.g. Movalley Resources

The Look West Campaign

► Promote Western Region as a place to live, work and do business ► Direct people to www.lookwest.ie

► Provide useful information for individuals and enterprises thinking of moving ► 2,600 individuals & businesses have registered their interest ► over half in the 26-35 age group and 80% with third level qualifications

Lessons from Practice

►

Need for clear action model and roadmap for RD actors that involves

 Shared vision between partners  Solid information-based action plan  Ways of trying-out ideas and actions  Mainstreaming and renewal strategies  Expert support and advice (Teagasc?)

Knowledge Gaps

► Dynamics of rural economy – especially service sector ► Changing role of towns in rural regions ► Understanding rural life-style preferences ► Recreation, and tourism potential of rural amenity assets ► Appropriate service delivery mechanisms for rural areas ► Social impact of economic changes etc, etc,

Policy Approaches

► International experience suggests that a multi-sectoral focus on place and investments works best ► All levels of government and stakeholders must be involved with common purpose ► Need structures that facilitate knowledge-sharing and efficiency ► Political commitment ► Robust analyses of successes and failures ► Address research and intelligence gap for policy – especially indicators capable of measuring outputs