At the hub of the mid-west region is the Shannon/Limerick/Ennis axis, the development of which is especially important to the Republic's international ambitions, according to the National Spatial Strategy.
Shannon/Limerick/Ennis sits where a number of key air, road and rail transport corridors converge. This axis also has the benefit of nearby electricity generation and the recent extension of natural gas. There is also a deepwater port, and high-speed electronic communications.
These facilities form the nucleus of a region with substantial capacity and potential for further development, according to the draft planning guidelines.
Indeed, the guidelines note that the axis already sits at the centre of a west coast necklace of high technology and pharmaceutical companies, many representing the much-desired "high- end" foreign direct investment.
This "Atlantic Corridor" is actively promoted by Dr Chris Coughlan of Hewlett Packard in Galway and by Dr Brian Callanan of Shannon Development. The latter included companies in Cork and dubbed it the "Atlantic Arc".
Both Dr Callanan and Dr Coughlan agree that the arc/corridor has the potential to rival the east coast as a development zone and the Mid-West Regional Authority has taken this on board in its draft guidelines. It describes the region's possibilities as "immense".
Locally, Shannon has a function as a transportation hub, a centre of employment and a focus for foreign direct investment. Combined with the city of Limerick and the urban areas of Shannon and Ennis, it creates a centrally located metropolitan centre which can be accessed from all its parts.
Ennis is a hub in its own right and can complement and support Galway as well as Limerick by providing a node of economic growth and activity between the two gateways.
Despite the region's strengths, weaknesses are also noted. Some parts are relatively remote. The population in many areas is small and declining, with a weak urban structure. Only two towns have populations of more than 5,000, while 40 settlements lost population during the 1996-2002 period. Despite its importance, the region's population is expected to grow by about 40,000 only, to 380,000 over the next 16 years.
The guidelines suggest towns such as Nenagh, Thurles, Roscrea and Newcastle West need packages which include quality urban design, water and waste water services, and linkages to the Limerick/Shannon/Ennis area. Opportunities exist for towns such as Abbeyfeale, Kilrush, Rathkeale and Templemore to improve their base for enterprise within the county structure.
Tourism plays a key role in rural areas and the guidelines refer - somewhat obliquely - to how the established tourism areas "such as along the west coast of Clare . . . can be sustained through effective management and the sustainable development of assets such as the natural and cultural heritage".
The guidelines point out that co-operation across county boundaries will be critical, both in developing the industrial core but also in protecting environmentally sensitive areas such as the Shannon Estuary, Lough Derg, the Burren, the Atlantic Coast, and upland areas such as the Galtees, Slieve Aughty and Slieve Phelim. The draft regional planning guidelines are accessible at www.mwra.ie
