Population 'timebomb' sparks war of words
Friday March 14 2008
A MAJOR row has erupted over how Ireland should cope with predicted growth rates which will see the national population soar to 12 million by 2058 -- a 200pc increase in less than half a century.
A new study conducted by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) advocated aggressively exploiting eastern seaboard population growth in an urban zone, stretching from Waterford through Dublin to Belfast.
This would effectively create a "super-city" -- and rather than creating regional urban rivals to Dublin, would try and exploit the growth potential of the eastern seaboard.
The study -- dubbed 'Twice the Size -- Engineering the Future of Irish Gateway Cities' -- warned that Ireland has badly underestimated growth over recent years, with Ireland expected to reach a population of eight million by 2033 and 12 million by 2058.
However, Andrew Hind, of the Irish Planning Institute, rejected the recommendation that the greater Dublin area has to get "greater" -- arguing that balanced national growth was now essential.
Under the DIT blueprint, cities like Galway Cork, Limerick and Sligo would have to exploit their own "distinctiveness" for growth -- while national growth would be driven via the eastern seaboard.
Regional or 'gateway' cities would instead focus on complementing the eastern seaboard rather than rivalling it for population growth.
The study stressed there is strong economic reasons for supporting growth within the eastern seaboard corridor.
- Ralph Riegel
