Issues

Island infrastructure

A new publication has outlined key infrastructural changes that must be made in Northern Ireland and the Republic in order for the island to take its place amongst the most advanced competitive economies in the world. agendaNi takes a look into the future, as outlined by the report.

In 2030 Ireland will have a population of 8 million (compared with 6.25 million today), there will be eight city regions, a four-lane motorway, sea levels will have risen by 0.5 metres, water will be the main energy source and more flights will be required from Dublin and Belfast airports to the fast-growing markets of Brazil, Russia, India and

China.

The ‘Infrastructure for an island population of 8 million’ report was prepared jointly by the Irish Academy of Engineering and Engineers Ireland and

cites recommendations

that should be fulfilled so that Ireland can compete with other countries in the intense on- going competition for the “knowledge- based industry of the future.” The authors state that a knowledge-based industry has the potential to provide a high

standard of living but will only locate in regions with a high level of infrastructure.

The report examines infrastructural requirements in relation to transport, energy, water, waste, climate change, information technology, enterprise and engineering for health.

Its authors state: “Ireland’s infrastructure at present is well below that of its international competitors. World class infrastructure can best be provided in a cost efficient way with an urbanised population (towns with at least 1,500 people) and in cities with high density.”

The eight city regions identified in the report are Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Derry and Sligo.

Using the most recent official projections for the Republic (up to 2026) and Northern Ireland (up to 2033) the report expects that 90 per cent of the entire population will be living in the eight city regions comprised of areas approximately 65 kilometres from the centre of each city.

Half the population of the island will be located in the Dublin–Belfast corridor including the Newry–Dundalk gateway, with a population density five times greater than the rest of the island.

Roughly one-quarter of the population of the island will be located along a South- West corridor comprising Cork, Limerick and Galway.

For the first time, the population of the Dublin–Belfast corridor will be comparable to larger urban zones such as Milan, Hamburg or Manchester. In order to achieve the benefits of comparable economies of scale, and to attract inward investment, the report states that both corridors will need to be inter-connected. This inter-connectedness will come through efficient road, rail and air transport services and access to ports; world-class broadband communications;

close liaison between universities and industry; and highly developed education, health, and cultural services. In addition, the South-West corridor will have a leadership role in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and agriculture sectors.

In order to finance the ambitious infrastructural projects, the report suggests that five per cent of the island’s combined GDP is invested for each of the next 20 years. In addition it is possible that financing could come from the exchequer, the European Investment Bank, public private partnerships, or an island of Ireland infrastructure bank, similar to those in Australia and Germany.

Transport

• The road from Dublin to Belfast will be the busiest inter-city route and will need to be upgraded to a four lane motorway for two-thirds of the distance

• All the cities should be connected by rail and journey times should be reduced to 1 hour 15 minutes with four stops and a frequency of 15 minutes (similar to trains from Glasgow to Edinburgh or Frankfurt to Cologne)

• Dublin port oil zone should be relocated to a new port, with a dedicated pipeline supplying aviation fuel directly to Dublin airport

• Dublin airport should be developed as a major international hub complemented by Belfast International, both dealing with 80 per cent of island’s international air travel

Energy

• Investment in research and development (R&D) of offshore wind, marine renewables and smart grid technologies should be a priority

• Gas storage should be increased from 3 per cent to 20 per cent of annual usage in order to improve energy security

• Gas, coal and nuclear should contribute to the non-renewable segment of electricity generation

• Electric cars could store the electricity generated from wind energy at night

• Waste to energy plants should be established

• A shared water mains network connecting the River Shannon, Dublin, Lough Neagh and Belfast should be built

• Local district heating should be a requirement in new apartment blocks and district heating networks in cities should be fed by combined heat and power stations and waste to energy plants

Climate change

• Flood risk assessments should be carried out for each piece of critical infrastructure

• A tidal barrier protecting Dublin could incorporate the eastern bypass and be a foundation for road and rail lines

• ‘Base-load electricity’, a new form of electricity that doesn’t emit green- house gas, should be developed and generated from coal and gas fired

power stations using carbon capture storage and from imported nuclear power

• As a result of climate change, Ireland will become a main centre for global food production

Information technology

• A high speed and large capacity information highway, directly connected to Europe and matching the performance of the most advanced global economies, should be developed

Enterprise

• A knowledge-based industry should be established through R&D and innovation in higher education and the creation of specialised industrial clusters and innovation hubs in each city

Engineering for health

• Advanced IT infrastructure should be built within the healthcare system, linked to the broadband network. This would enable the use of sophisticated personal diagnostic devices allowing for early detection of life-threatening events

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