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

1. Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Rural RegionsDr Patricia O’Hara

2. Western Development Commission • State agency • Seven-county Western Region • DCRAGA • Strategic remit • WR mainly rural – 77% outside Gateways & Hubs

3. Presentation Outline • Key trends in rural regions • Challenges and opportunities • WDC experience in rural development action • Lessons from practice • Research needs • Policy approaches

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. WDC and Rural Tourism • Blueprint for Tourism Development in the West: An Action Plan for Rural Areas • Western Development Tourism Programmeestablished. Outputs include: • Green Box – Econ Tourism (cross border) • Walking in the West • Tourism Taste Trail – blueprint • Training – cross border • Super-region concept

10. 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;

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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?)

15. 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,

16. 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