TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

a new strong cluster companies, often described as the Irish Power. These companies became
major exporters and over time have replaced the reliability of Irish economy on the Foreign
Direct Investment. This means that sustainable wealth could be generated from the indigenous
innovation. At the same time, the political centre of gravity moved eastwards as an increasing
share of the population was drawn to the Eastern region, which accelerated the urbanisation of
values and priorities.
The Eastern Conurbation has developed a world class infrastructure. A four-lane railway
corridor from Larne to Duncannon is used for both goods and passengers and is paralleled by a
dedicated infrastructure corridor and a motorway. The fast lane allows journeys from Belfast to
Waterford to be completed in 2 hours. The dense network of commuter and fast rail lines
complemented by roads connects most of the centres in the Conurbation and stretches out to
the West allowing an easy access to the main recreational and leisure hubs in the West. The isle
of Ireland is served by three main airports: Belfast, Waterford and Dublin West. The Dublin
West airport was completed in 2017, located near Mullingar, quickly became the main airport
serving the areas from the mid-East to mid-West. There are very few places in Ireland that are
more than two hours away from one of the main airport s. The Duncannon Europort, completed
in 2019, is now a major national deepwater import and transhipment port for high-speed large
transatlantic vessels (HLTVs).
The West of Ireland in 2030 is quite the opposite of its Eastern regions. After long years of
lagging behind, abandoned villages and towns are coming back to life again. Creativity,
beautiful landscapes and the feel of the ‘old Irishness’ became attractive again when the East
lost its identity and distinctiveness. However, it is not such a paradise as it seems. The West,
designated out of its existence, became a playground for urban people. Tourism, leisure and
cultural activities create employment prospects, but most of the benefits drift back to the East.
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