Planning in Ireland. Does Planning Ensures Economic Growth - Essay Example

What is standard justification of planning Is it correct Order 198530 Deadline: 2007-12-15 07:00 Style: Harvard Language Style: EnglishUK Pages: 4 Sources: 3 Writer ID: 6746 INTRODUCTION: PLANNING ENSURES ECONOMIC GROWTH Ireland's Urban Planning is the key mechanism that transcended several aspects of the built and social environments of municipalities and communities since World War II. Other associated areas of infrastructural development that took place during the recent years namely architecture, landscape architecture, transport, industry sector. The city Dublin, founded as a Viking settlement, the city has been Ireland's primary city for most of the island's history since medieval times. Today, it is an economic, administrative and cultural centre for the island of Ireland, and has one of the fastest growing populations of any European capital city. The economic boom years have led to a sharp increase in construction, which is now also a major employer, especially for immigrants. Redevelopment is taking place in large projects such as Dublin Docklands, Spencer Dock and others, transforming once run-down industrial areas in the city centre. This would have not been possible if there had not been strategic planning with visionary economic ambitions. Hence, the supreme justification of planning lies with its expected output. Otherwise no economy would accomplish its strategic design based on the available resources and its management. A GLIMPSE ON THE HISTORY: IRELAND SHIFTED ITS PARADIGMS In the 1920s and early 1930s, the Republic of Ireland pursued a low-tax, low-spending, non-interventionist approach under the government of W. T. Cosgrave and Cumann na nGaedhael, focused mainly on agriculture, livestock farming being of primary importance. The only notable expense the government went to during this time was for the rural electrification scheme, which saw 5,000,000 being spent constructing the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station on the river Shannon. During this period, 97% of trade was done with Britain. This government favored free trade. However, this proved inadequate after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Ireland, as we know, is the third largest island in Europe and the twentieth largest island in the world. Politically, the Republic of Ireland covers five sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, covering the remainder in the northeast. According to Government census carried out in 2007 the population of the island is slightly under six million with almost 4.25 million in the Republic of Ireland, 1.7 million in Greater Dublin and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland, 0.6 million in Greater Belfast. This is a significant increase from a modern historical low in the 1960s, but still much lower than the peak population of over 8 million in the early 19th century, prior to the Great Famine. In 1932, Eamonn De Valera's Fianna Fil party defeated Cosgrave's party with a solid majority. De Valera's policy was of economic nationalism, a belief in self-sufficiency, and attempted industrialization. The economic war resulted in widespread hardship for Irish farming, which was the backbone of the economy, and which relied on exports to English cities for a market. The tariffs resulted in price increases for many essential manufactured goods, and an increase in the cost of living. High unemployment in richer English speaking countries made emigration from Ireland less of an option, decreasing wages. Northern Ireland experienced a boom during World War II, as a result of demand for its principal industries, shipbuilding and linen making, and got a lot of support from the British government thereafter. Purpose built industrial estates was developed in most large towns. Rural Electrification, the division of large estates, and agricultural scientific education resulted in dramatic increases in agricultural output in the 1960s. In 1972, secondary level education was made free and compulsory. The Republic applied to join the European Economic Community, gaining entry in 1973 along with Britain. From 1973 to 1983, Ireland was hit by two oil crises, a series of bank strikes that paralyzed business activity for 18 months, poor industrial relations, public pay rises, and runaway inflation. Ireland's heavy industries, located primarily in Cork, almost disappeared between 1982 and 1984. Agriculture, The only sector of the economy, which was competitive at this stage, was constrained by production quotas, and prevented from taking up the slack in the economy. This situation changed dramatically in the mid 1990s as the result of a second, more prodigious, economic boom, known as the Celtic Tiger. This was led by a surge in inward investment in high-end industries in services, and lower taxation levels. In July 2006, a survey undertaken by Bank of Ireland Private Banking showed that, of the top 8 leading OECD nations, the Republic of Ireland was ranked the second wealthiest per capita country in the world, showing an average wealth per head of nearly 150,000. This is behind Japan, and ahead of other countries such as the UK, U.S., Italy, France, Germany and Spain. The rosy reports and GDP figures mask several underlying imbalances. The construction sector, which is inherently cyclical in nature, now accounts for a significant component of Ireland's GDP. A recent downturn in residential property market sentiment has highlighted the over-exposure of the Irish economy to construction, which now presents a threat to economic growth. CONCLUSION: PLANNING RECEIVED JUSTIFICATION The economy of Ireland has transformed in recent years from an agricultural focus to one dependent on trade, industry and investment. Economic growth in Ireland averaged an exceptional 10% from 1995-2000, and 7% from 2001-2004.Exports play a fundamental role in the state's robust growth, but the economy also benefits from the accompanying rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Remarkably key part of economic policy, since 1987, GDP growth continued to be relatively robust, with a rate of about 6% in 2001 and 2002. Growth for 2004 was over 4%, and for 2005 was 4.7%. However, there is a slight negative impact of policy implementations. The positive reports and economic statistics mask several underlying imbalances. The construction sector, which is inherently cyclical in nature, now accounts for a significant component of Ireland's GDP. A recent downturn in residential property market sentiment has highlighted the over-exposure of the Irish economy to construction, which now presents a threat to economic growth. REFERENCES 1. Hackney, P. Ed. 1992. Stewart and Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University, Belfast. ISBN 0 85 389 4469. 2. Fairley, J.S. 1975. An Irish Beast Book. A Natural History of Ireland's Furred Wildlife. Blackstaff Press, Belfast. ISBN 85640 090 4 3. Hardy, F.G. & Guiry, M.D. 2006. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Revised Edition pp. x + 435. London: British Phycological Society. Available from Koeltz Books, Germany. ISBN 3-906166-35-X Read More