TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

In fact, NSS II designated most of the Midlands as the area of special environmental protection,
strictly limiting urban development to already existing centres. New residential development
was allowed only in eco-villages that were serving the needs of protected areas. Do you
remember, you were saying, after your trip in 2014, that you have seen large pockets of newly
planted forests in Westmeath. The reforestation already started back then. I always thought it
was only to meet the demand for wood products. I know now it was essentially to
counterbalance the CO2 emissions.
I was told that a mismatch of government policy with Midlands’ aspirations has left the region in
some sort of limbo for few years. More energetic people started to move away mainly to the
prospering Atlantic Corridor region and to a lesser degree to Dublin-Belfast Corridor, others
stayed accepting the limited possibilities or commuted to work, which wasn’t really that
difficult with the excellent train connections. Only with time did people start to see the NSS II
policy as a good thing.
Around the early 2020s, people began to flow back into the Midlands, after the decline in
population over previous 6-8 years. You wouldn’t believe it! The combined population of Offaly
and Westmeath fell to 140,000 in 2016. Now it is around 200,000. Many started to appreciate
the way of life that developed here. I think they call it “the wisdom society” (people who
appreciate their close access to nature, leisure pursuits and healthy living, as well as the Statesupported
communities of scholars, poets, artists and musicians). Although, it only offers a
modest standard of life, the richness and diversity of non-material experience is increasingly
attracting more people to the area.
I went on three tours: the Castle necklace, Canals drifting and Wild mushroom picking. I loved
it! I wish you were there with me! And, there is so much more to do, even for the old people
like us.
But, you know what people start to appreciate more and more about the NSS II? The designation
of Midlands aimed to preserve water resources in Ireland, and that it did very well! I was
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New ideas and creative
solutions started to flourish.
The local environmental
institutes in collaboration with
the Athlone Institute of
Technology developed new
educational tourism packages.
Children from all over Ireland
and increasingly other
countries come to Midlands to
observe birds, evolution of
peat lands, geological
exposition and have a good
time at the same time.