§ €116 billion
National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides a 10-year pipeline of projects and
should “provide confidence for the engineering sector”
§ Single
infrastructure authority should be established to ensure the efficient delivery
and implementation of strategic infrastructure
§ 20-year
planning approach “central to enabling prosperity, wellbeing and long-term
growth”
§ Country must
plan for the concentration of population and jobs growth in city-regions
§ Now, more than
ever, “we need to inspire more young people to study engineering”
Engineers Ireland has welcomed
the publication by Government of the National Planning Framework (NPF), calling it “a critically important framework for the sustainable
development of our country over the next generation.” The organisation also
strongly welcomed the joint publication of the €116 billion 10-year National
Development Plan (NDP), saying “the alignment of
spatial planning and investment is a vital step towards sustainable growth and
effective investment.”
Commenting on the
announcements, Caroline Spillane, Director General, Engineers Ireland, said: “Spatial planning and infrastructure delivery are important
determinants of how we live, work and grow old. Yet planning in Ireland has
frequently been inadequate for the country’s needs and based on a short-term
and local view. Engineers Ireland has long advocated for planning that is
evidence-based, long-term and divorced from the electoral cycle. We therefore
welcome the 20-year approach taken in Project Ireland 2040 which will be
central to enabling prosperity, wellbeing and long-term growth.”
In relation to the
implementation of the NPF and NDP, Ms Spillane welcomed the attention given to institutional reform. “A new National
Regeneration and Development Agency will be the centre of expertise in
strategic land development, an Infrastructure Projects Steering Group will
develop cross-sectoral dialogue on infrastructure, and the Construction Sector
Working Group will ensure dialogue between Government and the construction
sector.”
However, she said that the
Government must go one step further: “Engineers Ireland believes the Government
must establish a single infrastructure authority to oversee the implementation
of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan projects
across Government departments and State agencies.
“This new authority should
bring together the myriad of institutions and policy instruments which are
currently involved in infrastructure and the new authority should be placed on
a statutory footing. This approach would ensure the integrated and streamlined
delivery of priority infrastructure projects. The authority would seek to build
cross-party and cross-sectoral consensus, as well as public and media
understanding and support.”
President of Engineers Ireland, Dr Kieran Feighan said the organisation strongly supports planning for the concentration
of growth in city-regions and other urban areas: “In line with international
trends, we must prepare for the majority of population and jobs growth to be
focused in urban centres. This will mean putting in place strategic systems of
infrastructure to support growth, such as public transport networks, water
services and flood defences. The NPF is a critically important framework for
the sustainable development of our country over the next generation.”
Dr Kieran Feighan continued: “We must
also rebalance national development to ensure more widespread access to the
economic recovery and to relieve the mounting pressure on Dublin. We welcome the
steps taken towards developing critical mass along the Atlantic Economic
Corridor (Waterford, Cork, Limerick/Shannon, Galway, Sligo and
Letterkenny/Derry), which can act as a counterbalance to Dublin in terms of
attracting population, employment and investment. We are pleased the NDP will
channel investment into improving the attractiveness and connectivity of this
corridor. At the same time, it is important to recognise the capital city as
the national economic driver and it must continue to develop, prosper and
compete as an internationally significant city.”
The organisation also welcomed
the 10-year pipeline of projects contained in the €116 billion National
Development Plan. They said that many of these projects have been identified by
expert engineers as vital pieces of infrastructure in Engineers Ireland’s
annual State of Ireland reports, including:
§ National Broadband Plan
§ Flood risk management
§ Metro Link, DART expansion and BusConnects
§ M20 Cork to Limerick
§ Airports and ports
§ Renewables and grid interconnection
§ Retrofitting for energy efficiency
§ Water and wastewater treatment and networks
§ The full pipeline of projects, they said, should inspire confidence in
the engineering sector in the years ahead.
Dr Kieran Feighan added: “Every
objective contained in these plans will require the engineering community to
play a significant role. Engineers will be crucial in delivering compact and
smart growth, enhanced regional accessibility, high-quality international
connectivity, a strong digital economy, transition to a low carbon and
resilient society and the sustainable management of water and other resources.
Now, more than ever, we need to inspire more young people to study
engineering.”
In an effort to demystify the
subject of engineering, Engineers Ireland's STEPS programme - funded under
Science Foundation Ireland’s Discover Programme Call - encourages primary and
post-primary students to explore the world of science, technology, engineering
and maths (STEM), while promoting engineering as a study and career choice.
Engineers Week, Engineers Ireland’s annual festival of engineering, takes place
nationwide from 24 February to 2 March 2018.
Read the full article @ www.engineersireland.ie
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