TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

PART I: Introduction, Methodology and Context
1 INTRODUCTION
Over the past 15 years Ireland has undergone deep transformation from a poor nation on the
periphery of Europe to a country with growing population and prosperity. The changes
transformed all areas of Irish life – its economy, values, society, political scene and natural
landscapes. Yet, as the whole world progress rapidly, Irish regions, cities and towns face even
more profound shifts that will bring radical transformation to their spatial structure and sociocultural
make-up. With a possible doubling of existing population size, it looks increasingly that
there are no adequate plans for the actual future that may occur, but instead current strategies
and plans are continually playing catch-up to the realities already changing Irish society.
This is even more relevant to the Irish gateways 1 designated, in the National Spatial Strategy of
2002 as national centres of growth. To instigate the debate on consequences of the current and
future growth of the gateways, The Urban Forum commissioned The Futures Academy, in
conjunction with the School of Spatial Planning, at Dublin Institute of Technology, to conduct
this study. By using a futures approach - Prospective Through Scenarios - the project intended
to:
promote a longer term proactive outlook amongst the local and regional stakeholders;
challenge present assumptions about the development of the gateways in the future;
encourage alternative ways of thinking about the future in a rigorous and systematic
manner;
develop an understanding what futures are possible and desirable and how the gateways
can prepare for what the future may bring; and
create a platform, where stakeholders can meet, think and talk about the future of the
gateways in a neutral setting.
The results of the journey into the future of eight Irish gateways, along with the study’s context
and methodology are presented in this report, which concludes the study.
1.1 Project Aim and Objectives
The main aim of the project was to develop a set of spatial visions of possible and preferable
futures for the gateways outside Dublin designated within the National Spatial Strategy using
Prospective Through Scenarios methodology. Such visions would act as a stimulus to
communities, decision-makers, planners, architects and developers in defining the roles,
functions and positions of their cities and towns, and their surrounding regions, having regard to
their gateway status.
1 Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Midlands, Sligo, and Waterford.
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