Border Midlands and West Region of Ireland

Peripheral Region

Border Midlands West

Periphery Regions

• Less Developed Regions• Physical and Human Factors that discourage

settlement and economic activity• Poor relief often mountainous, poor infertile soil• Poor transport network• Low population density – often older population• Dependent on primary economic activities e.g..

farming, forestry fishing and mining.

Physical FactorsClimate• Cool temperate oceanic climate• Higher relief creates cooler wetter conditions

than in the GDA.• Average annual rainfall can exceed 2,500mm• Av July temps 14°c and av. January temps 5.7°c• More frost inland than in GDA

Physical FactorsRelief and Drainage• Varied relief of mountains, lakes and

lowlands.• Blue stack mountains Mayo and

Derryveagh mountains Donegal.• Coastline is made of headlands and

sheltered bays due to erosion by the Atlantic ocean

Physical FactorsSoils• Varied Soils generally poor quality e.g.

peat and gley soils

• Heavy rainfall has led to leaching of soils and the creation of podzol soils which have a hard pan and are poorly drained.

Human Factors

Population• Lower than average population density –

32people per km squared.• Due to the mountainous relief, poor soils,

impact of out migration of young people• Low population prevents economic

development as employers will locate where they can find a large labour force.

Human FactorTransport• Underdeveloped transport network due to

difficult relief, low population density and lack of economic development

• Receives government and EU funds to improve it. The NDP (national development plan) focuses on improving road and rail links to the region.

Human FactorGovernment and EU Policy• Aim to develop economic activity. • Many different organisations like:

1. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food responsible for the promotion and development of agriculture, food, forestry and rural development.

2. Industrial Development Authority – responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment

3. Údarás Na Gaeltachta funds the economic and social development of Gaeltacht areas.

Activity• Group work – Read the notes on physical

and human factors in the BMW.

• Add in any extra notes found in your book to your notes copy.

Primary Economic Activities • 3FM – Farming, forestry, fishing and mining.

• Thinking about the human and physical factors we learnt yesterday.. Can you think of how these factors would affect primary economic activities.

Work in groups1. Farming2. Fishing3. Forestry

Farming• Wet Climate• Varied relief• Poor soils

• Hinders the development of farming. Much of the land is classified as being disadvantaged for farming by the EU.

Farming• Farm incomes are lower in the BMW than in

the GDA. 50% of farmers have an off season job to supplement their income.

This is because1. Poorer land2. Smaller farm sizes and fragmented farms.

(smallest farms are in Co. Mayo and Co. Monaghan

3. Older farmers. (Donegal 46% of farmers are over 55years of age).

Farming• Mainly pastoral farming especially sheep in the uplands and cattle

rearing in the lowlands.

• MOST ANIMALS ARE SOLD AT A YOUNG AGE TO BE FATTENED ON THE MORE FERTILE LANDS IN THE EAST AND MIDLANDS. DAIRYING IS MAINLY CONFINED TO THE LARGER FARMS IN THE WEST.

• SHEEP FARMING IS PRACTISED ON THE WELL DRAINED MOUNTAIN SLOPES AND THE LIMESTONE LOWLANDS. AN ESTIMATED 27% OF MOUNTAIN SIDES HAVE BEEN OVERGRAZED BY SHEEP HOWEVER AS A RESULT OF THE DOUBLING OF THE SHEEP POPULTION BETWEEN 1980 AND 1995 DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF EU SUBSIDIES.

• Poultry and mushroom production are found in the border counties as they are not hugely dependent on ground quality.

• Due to wet climate and steep relief few cerals can be grown.

Forestry• Farmers work part time in forestry to supplement

their income. They make more profitable use of their land by turning to forestry.. Why?

• Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Leitrim have most forest cover due to the high percentage of marginal land (mountainous with poor soils).

• These regions are suitable for forestry because the mild, wet Irish climate encourages rapid growth of coniferous trees e.g.. Sitka Spruce and Scots Pine.

Forestry• A lot of cutaway bogs are present in the

midlands. Trees are a good way to use this land. Coillte overseas the replanting of trees in the west.

FishingGroup work: What natural advantages does the west coast of the BMW have which suit farming?

Hint: You learnt all about the fishing industry in junior cycle and why Ireland has such a prosperous fishing industry.

Fishing• The west coast of the BMW has a number of

natural advantages for the fishing industry.1. Close to the rich fishing grounds of the North

Atlantic2. Influenced by the North Atlantic Drift ocean

current which brings warm water and a variety of fish.

3. The sea is shallow and rich in plankton due to the continental shelf.

4. The indented coastline provides natural, sheltered, pollution – free harbours.

Fishing • Region has many small coastal and island communities

where there are few other employment opportunities.. (Why?)

• Donegal is the most dependent on fishing. Killybegs is the main fishing port. Fishing and related activities are estimated to be worth around €50 million to the local economy each year.

• Killybegs is the centre of the Irish pelagic fleet (large factory ships with refrigerated tanks to hold the catch of fish). Over 60% of employment in the Irish pelagic sector takes place in Donegal.

• Aquaculture (Salmon and shellfish) is an increasingly important economic activity in regions such as Mayo. Sea trout are farmed in Clew Bay and Killary Harbour is a major mussel cultivator.

• The importance of fishing is shown by the fact that 60% of funding from Bord Iascaigh Mhara is spent in the BMW.

Natural Resources

• Gas is located in the Corrib gas field Mayo. When it is developed it will produce gas for about 20 years. It is approx 70% the size of Kinsale gas field.

• Bord Gais is planning to build and operate a 150km pipeline from Mayo to Galway.

• This has caused a lot of controversy over planning permission, positioning and safety of the onshore processing plant and over ground pipeline.

• In 2010 planning permission was granted.

• Peat: Located in the raised bog lands in the midlands. Before gas turf was Ireland’s most important energy resource.

• PEAT IS USED ONLY FOR DOMESTIC SUPPLY.

• WIND FARMS (built on used bogs) GENERATE ELECTRICITY AT CASTLEBAR AND BELLACORICK.

Recap on Primary Economic Activities in the BMW

Group work: Write ‘H’ next to every point that is influenced by a human factor.

Write ‘p’ next to every point that is influenced by a physical factor.

Possible Exam Questions1. Discuss the development of primary economic

activities in an Irish region you have studied. (30m)

2. Discuss agriculture in an Irish region you have studied (30m)

3. Compare the development of agriculture in two contrasting Irish regions you have studied (30m) (like comparative q in English- write about the GDA and the BMW)

Secondary Economic Activities

• Industry, factories.. Making items for sale.

• BMW rely on a few industries such as food processing, timber processing and textiles. It lacks diversity or variety in its industry.

• Like many peripheral regions the BMW is not a favourable location for manufacturing.

Why is the BMW not a favourable location?

Group work:

Outline the physical and human factors that cause the BMW to be an unfavourable location for industry.

Reasons for the underdevelopment of manufacturing

1. Poorly developed transport infrastructure2. Low population density3. Peripheral location4. Lack of power supplies capable of

supporting energy intensive industry5. Small urban population – small labour

force and markets.

• Main centres of industry are Galway, Castlebar, Letterkenny, Sligo and Dundalk.

• Galway is the only urban area with a variety of modern knowledge based industry such as electronics e.g.. Hewlwtt Packard and Boston Scientific.

• Why is this?

• Skilled workforce from the University of Galway, direct transport network to the east coast by air, rail, road or sea, a large urban market and the presence of serviced industrial estates.

• The government recognises the importance of attracting industry to the BMW and offers grants and tax incentives. E.g.. Gaeltacht in Co. Donegal attracts the maximum level of grant assistance, averaging €14,000 per job.

• UDARAS NA GAELTACTA AND THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IDA) SHARE THE TASK OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST. UDARAS DEALS WITH THE NATIVE SPEAKING AREAS AND THE IDA WITH THE REMAINING AREAS IN THE REGION.

• MANUFACTURING IN THE WEST IS FACING STIFF COMPETITION FROM THE OPENING MARKETS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND FURTHER AFILED IN INDIA AND ASIA, WHERE LABOUR AND RAW MATERIALS CAN BE OBTAINED AT A FAR CHEAPER RATE.

• THE DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ARE FIGHTING A CONSTANT BATTLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT INDUSTRIES FOR THOSE THAT LEAVE TO LOCATE ELSEWHERE.

Possible Exam Questions1. Examine two factors that have influenced

secondary economic activities in an Irish region you have studied.

2. Compare secondary economic activities in two Irish regions you have studied.

Tertiary Economic Activities1. Tourism

2. Transport

3. Education

4. Public Services

Transport / Communications• Poor transport and communication links..

Can you guess why? Hint: Physical and Human Factors

Transport• Routes are steep, winding and narrow due

to relief.• Low population density means transport

infrastructure is best developed along routes connecting the major urban areas.

• Roads are of poor quality and not suitable for heavy trucks preventing economic development.

• Rail links are underdeveloped if not absent.

• Public transport is underdeveloped with just 4% of the population using it to get to work compared to 11% nationally.

• There is a greater reliance on car ownership than in the BMW.

• International airports are Galway and Knock and smaller ones at Sligo and Donegal.

Peripheral location has led to the creation of many jobs based on teleservices. The area is served with high speed internet access.

Teleservices such as recruitment agencies, call centres, ticket sales and tour operators depend on fast broadband services.

There are several call centres in the BMW e.g.. FBD customer support in Mullingar.

Go to your map of Ireland

Fill in

•2 roads•2 airports

In the BMW

Grants and assistance• The National Development Plan has improved some

transport facilities due to the Transport 21 scheme.

• It aims to develop an ‘Atlantic Corridor’ of motorway and high quality dual carriageway linking gateway towns of Waterford to Letterkenny via Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo.

• While some of the motorways and dual carriageways have started, economic recession has caused a delay in completing the project.

Tourism• Tourism in Ireland – 200,000 jobs and €4.6

billion every year.

• BMW tourism is an important economic activity and relies on the physical factor of relief

1._____________2._____________3._____________

But tourism in the BMW has not grown as much as tourism in the GDA… Why?

• Dublin Airport main entry point to Ireland. Majority of tourists stay in the GDA region.

• Reduced tourist numbers due to the recession and Ireland’s reputation for being an expensive country.

• Transatlantic aircraft no longer have to stop at Shannon. This has reduced the number of tourists travelling on to the BMW region.

• Transport and car hire are expensive.

• Rail infrastructure is underdeveloped. Prevents people from travelling easily to the region.

Tourism in North West Ireland• 1.4m tourists visited in 2009. €319 million for the

economy.• Donegal and Sligo most popular destinations.• Tourism is seasonal • North west markets itself as a destination for tou

rists interested in outdoor activities and heritage.

• Scenic attractions – Cliffs at Slieve League and blue flag beaches of Bundoran and Rosses Point.

• Hotels offer relaxing breaks with golf courses, health centres, spa clubs and leisure centres.

• Caravan, camping and self catering holidays are very popular in the area.

• Donegal’s gaeltacht region is attractive to tourists due to it’s history, culture and heritage. Promotes it’s Irish culture with many traditional music and dance festivals.

• To counteract its peripheral location Donegal’s tourist industry promotes fly/drive package holidays through Sligo and Donegal airports.

Some Human Factors• 2010 Failte Ireland established Fáilte

North West. It has a 3 year plan aiming to boost tourism. €1m for the development of key attractions and €1m for walking and cycling routes.

Education• The percentage of the labour force that has completed

second or third level education is 44% compared to 52% in the GDA.

• The region provides 28% of the national university students but only 13% of graduates from the BMW region are employed within the region.

• This brain drain is due to the lack of suitable job opportunities for an educated labour force.

Solving the problems of the BMW

• If you were in charge of the government what would you do to reduce the inequality between the BMW and the GDA

Four ways to solve the inequality

1. National Development Plan (NDP)

2. National Spatial Strategy (NSS)

3. Transport 21

4. Decentralisation

National Development Plan• Main aim: Balance regional development. There are a number of

plans that last a number of years. The budget for these plans change. Money comes from the Central Exchequer i.e. through taxes.

• Newest plan 2010 – 2016 with a budget of €39 billion. Previous plan had a budget of €187billion… What happened??

1. Maintain employment levels and improve Ireland’s competitiveness amongst other countries.

2. Provide a world class economic and social infrastructure in transport, housing, health, education and environmental services.

3. To support science and enterprise4. To invest in education, skills and learning. 5. To promote social inclusion of all people in the country.

NDP and the BMW• Improve access to the region.

• Increase development using natural resources and tourism.

• Attract industries based on technology as a result of investment in electricity and broadband.

• Improve services to keep people living and working in the region.

• Investment in gateways, hubs, towns and rural areas.

National Spatial Strategy (NSS)• Developed to implement aims of the NDP

• 20 year strategy designed to allow each place in Ireland to reach its social, economic and physical potential.

• Identified certain cities and towns in Ireland as gateways and hubs.

• These are being developed to stop Dublin from becoming the main focus of the Irish economy. Control the growth of Dublin.

• Will also spread out work so people will not have to move and will develop the same services as the people in the GDA

NSS and the BMW• Investment in gateways and hubs. Gateways = Galway,

Sligo and Letterkenny. Hubs = Ballina, Castlebar, Monaghan

• Locating industries in these gateways, hubs and other areas within the region to create jobs.

• Monitor how the land is used so there is a good balance of industrial, commercial, residential and recreational land.

• Development of an efficient transport system.

• Improve cultural, sporting and recreational facilities within the gateways and hubs.

Transport 21• Name given to the planned development of the transport

system from 2005 – 2015.

• Aims 1. Increase accessibility to and from all areas.2. Ensure the transport systems are sustainable. 3. Expand the capacity of the current transport infrastructure. 4. Increase peoples’ use of public transport.5. Improve the quality of the transport infrastructure.

However some projects have been postponed due to the economic recession.

Transport 21 and the BMW• Improve road and rail network in the region

• Construction of the Atlantic corridor

• Investment in city and nationwide bus services.

• Improve western rail corridor linking Galway to Limerick – postponed in 2010.

Decentralisation• Launched in 2003 to promote greater regional balance.

• Planned for more than 10,000 civil servants and public service jobs to relocate to 58 locations, many of which were in the BMW.

• However few volunteered to leave Dublin and only 27 of the 92 planned moved occurred (3,000 civil servants).

• The majority of these projects have been postponed.

Decentralisation and BMW• Many jobs were provided in small towns

as a result of relocation.

• E.g. 60 civil servants in the Road Safety Authority to Ballina in Co.Mayo had an impact on other services and business in the town.