A proposal was prepared by Rural Dublin LEADER Company and was accepted by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development giving the company funding under the new EU LEADER + Programme. The proposed strategy will be based on the priority theme of "Improving the Quality of life in Rural Areas". This theme is interpreted by Rural Dublin LEADER Company as: "Improving the quality of life for rural Dublin communities by establishing a process of community participation in formulating and piloting an integrated rural planning and development strategy which serves to protect the rural areas from sprawling urbanisation and facilitates sustainable development activity which safeguards the character and identity of rural Dublin and its rural communities".

This proposal represents an attempt by Rural Dublin LEADER Company to employ a new, innovative approach to directly addressing the impact of urbanisation, which is now the single biggest issue for communities living in Dublin's rural hinterlamd. The rate of development in rural Dublin has increased dramatically in the past few years and in continuing to intensify. A recent report from the Central Statistics Office indicates that the Greater Dublin Area is growing even more rapidly than envisaged less than 12 months ago, in 1999, and that a population projection of 1.65 million envisaged for 2011 cold now be reached by 2006, requiring the building of an additional 200,000 homes. This will result in an increase of a staggering 56% (42,350) in the population of the rural hinterland. Rural towns and villages such as Newcastle, Saggart, Rathcoole, Stepaside, Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Balbriggan and Donabate/Portrane will all experience dramatic growth, in some cases involving a doubling or trebling of their existing populations. In parallel with this residential development a number of other major infrastructural development projects are also underway, or in the pipeline. The proposal refers to a recent ESRI report (June 2000), which warns that development is putting severe pressure on the economy's infrastructure and the natural environment, giving rise to quality of life considerations.

This report also says that the demand for housing has led to uncoordinated building and urban sprawl and suggests that "when the market has calmed down, we could be left with ugly urban configurations which would have eaten into places that would have been scenic around Dublin" The Company cites some of the key issues associated with this type of development as: Destruction of the structure and identity of local communities caused by the influx of new residents Difficulties in sustaining farming due to loss of agricultural land and spiralling prices for land. Traffic congestion Loss if green space and recreational amenities Degradation of the environment due to growing pressures of waste management and increased congestion Vandalism and problems with security of property Inadequate provision of local services and facilities Farming and rural life, which are a distinct part of Dublin's heritage, are under threat and many local communities feel that the rural parts of the County have been marginalised in the context of the dominance of Dublin city.

Rural Dublin LEADER Company are proposing a new, innovative and experimental approach to planning and development in this type of rural areas. The strategy includes the establishment of a Rural Panning Forum which would, for the first time, allow local communities and local interest groups to work together with the planning authorities in formulating a rural planning and development strategy. This will include the preparation of rural planning and development guidelines as well as a comprehensive environmental management plan for rural Dublin. The strategy also includes an extensive range of measures and pilot actions aimed at addressing the specific impacts of urbanisation on community integration, agriculture, rural enterprise and waste management.

Rural Dublin could become a test bed for a new approach to addressing what is now also increasingly becoming an issue for areas outside of Dublin. Counties such as Wicklow, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and even as far as Laois, Offaly and Carlow are also beginning to feel the effects of urbanisaion and will undoubtedly have an interest in the progress of Rural Dublin.

For information on making an application under the LEADER+ programme

Please e-mail-info@ruraldublin.ie or ring 01/8780564 View-|Applications|