TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

SCENARIO 2: CONNECTED LETTERKENNY(National scenario: WILD CATS OF EQUALITY)
Letterkenny has learned to view its position on the hill as an advantage, rather than as a
disadvantage, and has been the first gateway to develop a local tram network. The project took
eight years and was an endeavour supported by the EU Climate Agenda funds in an attempt to
help achieve national and European climate change/Kyoto II targets. The town developed
accordingly over the river. Connectivity was the answer to everything, not just bridges, cycle
lanes and footpaths, but trams and rail as well. An efficient public transport system was
essential to link all the fabulous areas of Letterkenny. Furthermore, linking all the services
within the city (theatre, arts centre, leisure centre, and library) served to further maximise
their use. Also, the development of rail links between Sligo, Letterkenny, Derry and Dublin were
initiated. “Connected Letterkenny” became the nickname for the gateway as it excelled at
providing and promoting sustainable transport systems in the Northwest.
Rural Economy
In 2008, the European Commission put forward legislation in order to reform the Common
Agricultural Policy due to the growing nature of the European Community. These reforms were
heavily criticised by the Irish Farmers Association because Irish farmers would lose €100m a year
in EU handouts. Huge ramifications occurred within the agricultural sector during the next five
years and changed the face of farming in Ireland, especially in Donegal. By 2013, urban sprawl
was created out of this as the farming sector downsized and farmers sold off their land to small
developers. However, with the agricultural sector starting to diminish, other uses for the rural
environment were looked at and considered. Organic farming, forestry and fishing emerged as
the strong activities at the fore of the emerging rural economy.
However, the local economy took a knock when in 2020, the traditional fishing industry went
into rapid decline following the major oil spillage of the North Sea oil tanker, the Mary Rose, as
well as a dwindling supply of fish. This had a serious impact on the development of Letterkenny.
As the sustainable ethos took off all over the country, Letterkenny seemed to get left behind.
Its local economic structure continued to be driven by a large extent, on low-value added
activities in traditional sectors such as textiles, agriculture and forestry. With inertia to change,
Letterkenny has not yet realised the opportunity the knowledge based sector can offer, and in
2030 economic stability and sustainability will only appear in time upon the creation of essential
conditions, such as infrastructure, management capability, cost competitiveness, innovation and
entrepreneurship, as a way to compete as a magnet for indigenous and foreign investment.
Northern Ireland
Interest groups in Donegal and other Northern counties felt that as rural areas, something had to
be done to support low capacity, disadvantaged and excluded groups in these areas and in 2007
a venture was set-up to tackle these issues and create stronger relations in cross border rural
economic development. Initiatives were launched with the British authorities in developing
complementary projects and marketing campaigns for the Donegal/Derry Region. The
183