Midlands Gateway
Encyclopedia
Midlands Gateway or Lake-Counties Gateway
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
, Shannon
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport, is one of the Republic of Ireland's three primary airports along with Dublin and Cork. In 2010 around 1,750,000 passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork, and the fifth busiest airport on the island...
, and Knock, with ever improving ground infrastructure, the Irish government and local authorities plan to alleviate urban problems, by decentralising to growing gateways such as the Midlands Gateway of Offaly and Westmeath.
According to the Irish National Development plan the Midlands gateway objectives are to reinforce and further develop strong links between these towns and the neighbouring urban centres, by means of infrastructure and services in order to maximise internal and external accessibility as a location for investment business development and tourism.
The counties immediately concerned are those of County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
and County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
. The neighbouring counties are County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and nearby Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
counties.
The principle urban centres concerned with the Midlands Gateway are Athlone, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
.
Objective
The proposed combined County council strategy aspires to provide the basis for the development of a world class, knowledge-based and competitive gateway. The strategy is designed to create an integrated linked Gateway comprising Athlone, TullamoreTullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
together with the other surrounding towns in the region with the objective of developing internationally competitive Gateway.
The designation and development of the Midlands gateway is aimed at providing the basis to develop a range of high quality employment and educational opportunities centred on first-rate accessibility and mobility. The Irish government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
strategy, combined with the associated councils has been formulated with the intention of ensuring the availability of choice in residential, retail, leisure and tourist facilities based on the principles of quality of life and environmental enhancement. It is hoped that this strategy, when implemented, will support economic development in adjoining counties to the Midlands Gateway.
Vision for the Midlands Gateway to the year 2020
The development of a world class, knowledge based and competitive gateway, underpinned by quality urban structure and environment, excellent infrastructure and a visionary leadership which maximises quality of life for its citizens.A background to this project is the Government’s National Spatial Strategy
National Development Plan
National Development Plan is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on national infrastructure. The period covered by the seven year plan runs from 2000 to 2006. A second National Development Plan is currently in progress and is due to run until...
, which was launched in 2002 with the objective of engendering a more balanced approach to regional development across the State.
The purpose of this Strategic Framework is to focus more directly on the role of the Midlands Gateway within this Strategy in acting as the economic driving force for the development of the Midlands region.
Achieving the Vision
In order to ensure that the vision for the Midlands Gateway is fully achieved, the following partners are of critical importance to the Midlands gateways success:Involvement and participation of most important stakeholders/agencies responsible for achieving the vision, including Government Departments, Industrial Development Authority
IDA Ireland
IDA Ireland is the agency responsible for industrial development in Ireland. The agency was founded in 1949 as the Industrial Development Authority and placed on a statutory footing a year later...
(Ireland), National Roads Authority
National Roads Authority
The National Roads Authority is a state body in the Republic of Ireland, responsible for the national road network. The NRA was established as part of the Roads Act 1993 and commenced operations on 23 December 1993 in accordance with S.I. 407 of 1993.County councils remain responsible for local...
NRA, Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and local agencies;
Development of a long-term strategic approach regarding the development, advancement and promotion of the Midlands Gateway;
Clear integration of the three principal Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar so as to form a seamless ‘linked gateway’;
Incorporation of the Strategic Development Framework for the Midlands Gateway into the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Midlands Region;
Ongoing monitoring and review of the Strategic Development Framework to ensure its success.
Transportation Accessibility Mobility Internal & External to the Gateway
One of the most essential requirements that will ensure the successful operation of a Gateway is the provision of high quality transport infrastructure so as to provide the necessary levels of internal and external
accessibility and mobility.
Currently, the Gateway does not have direct access to complete Inter-Urban Motorways/Dual-Carriageways, both internally and externally. The Gateway, and in particular the three principal Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, is served by main line inter-urban rail and bus networks, with direct access to urban centres of Dublin, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
and Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, and limited local bus services.
However, there is poor rail connection within the Gateway. In addition, the Gateway is not directly served by an inland port and, of critical importance, is not currently within one hour drive time of an international airport. There is poor road linkage between the Gateways towns, with limited rail and bus service links. Based on the road development proposals announced in the Transport 21 Government Proposal (November, 2005), the Midlands Gateway will attain improved and direct access to the above mentioned national urban centres, and therefore also to ports and airports. There is a need to considerably improve the road infrastructure within and adjacent to the Gateway, as the existing status is significantly insufficient.
Overall, the Gateway's current position is deficient in terms of transportation, accessibility and mobility.
Overall Indecon Report Conclusions
The scale of the economic challenges facing the Midlands Gateway is very large. The analysis in the Strategic development Framework for the Midlands Gateway report (listed below), has highlighted the following challenges:- The absence of a critical mass of population, employment and infrastructure in the Gateway;
- The extremely low levels of value-added and productivity in the existing manufacturing base in the region, which leaves the Gateway vulnerable to significant further job losses;
- The persistence of socio-economic barriers, including noticeably higher unemployment, lower educational attainment, and social deprivation/exclusion in certain areas in the Midlands counties;
- The failure of the region to capture a higher share of tourism activity and to develop higher value tourism product areas; and
- The absence of a strong, identifiable ‘brand’ for the Midlands Gateway, which gives the Gateway and surrounding region strong visibility as an attractive location for live and work.
- The reporters Simpson and Associates, strongly believe that unless the strategies recommended in this report are implemented, the potential for the area to develop as a significant Gateway is limited and this, like all the other elements of the (original National Spatial Strategy), now called the National Development PlanNational Development PlanNational Development Plan is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on national infrastructure. The period covered by the seven year plan runs from 2000 to 2006. A second National Development Plan is currently in progress and is due to run until...
, would remain aspirational. - If, however, the recommendations in this report are implemented, we believe there is a real opportunity for significant progress to be made.
Epilogue
This above mentioned report represents a major step in collaboration between the Westmeath and Offaly County Councils in developing the Gateway. While there will be significant challenges in implementing the gateway concept, this framework represents the key first step forward and, when followed by the other actions recommended, could see the full implementation of this element of the National Spacial Strategy (NSS).http://www.ndp.ie|National-Development Plan This might provide the basis the basis for developing a successful competitive gateway.See also
- Irish National Development PlanNational Development PlanNational Development Plan is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on national infrastructure. The period covered by the seven year plan runs from 2000 to 2006. A second National Development Plan is currently in progress and is due to run until...
- Platform 11Platform 11Rail Users Ireland is a rail transport pressure group in Ireland whose agenda is centred on the idea that there is an economic case for expanding rail transport in Ireland through better utilization of existing infrastructure with only justified expansion of existing routes...
- Transport 21Transport 21Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
- Midland Railway Action GroupMidland Railway Action GroupMidland Railway Action Group was established to improve the internal infrastructure of the Irish Midlands, in particular, Mullingar, Tullamore, and Athlone, the Midland Railway Action Group is a pressure group striving to have the Athlone to Mullingar rail line re-opened, in order to serve the...