Regional Geography D. Mc Donnell

Socio-Economic Regions

Socio-Economic comes from the words

Social and Economic

Social refers to things like education, health service,

community services, housing (private and public),

crime and general social life

Economic refers to things like the amount of wealth,

money, jobs, the state of the economy

Socio-Economic Regions classified on how developed

or less developed these regions are based on the

factors outlined above

Regional Geography

Socio-Economic Regions

Core Regions:

These are regions that have many social and

economic advantages such as lots of jobs, good

opportunities for business, good services, good

transport networks, schools, universities, hospitals and

other services e.g. Dublin, London, Paris

Peripheral Regions:

These are regions that have less favourable socio-

economic advantages such as more unemployment,

fewer opportunities for business, fewer services, less

colleges and universities, fewer hospitals, poorer

transport networks e.g. West of Ireland, Southern Italy,

N.W. Spain

Regional Geography

Socio-Economic Regions

CORE REGIONS Good Transport

Good Location

City

Lots of Jobs

High Incomes

V. Good Services

PERIPHERAL

REGIONS Poorly QualityTransport

Marginal Location

Generally Rural

Lack of Jobs

Low Incomes

Sub Standard

Services

RESOURCES MOVE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER

Raw Materials, People, Money, Profits,

Food

Processed Quality Goods, Grants

Regional Geography

Socio-Economic Regions

We will Study the following Socio-Economic Regions

Peripheral Regions

1. West Of Ireland (B.M.W.)

3. Mezzogiorno

(South Italy)

Core Regions

2. Dublin

4. Flemish Diamond

(Belgium)

5. Subcontinent of South Asia

(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)

Regional Geography

Socio-Economic Regions

We will study each of the Regions under the following main headings

1. Physical Process

i.e. Relief, Drainage, Soils, Climate

2. Primary Economic Activities

i.e. Farming, Fishing, Forestry, Mining

3. Secondary Economic Activities

i.e. Factories, Manufacturing, Industry

4. Tertiary Economic Activities

i.e. Tourism, Transport, Services

5. Human Processes

i.e. Settlement Patterns, Population Dynamics, Development

Ireland’s Main Regions

PERIPHERAL REGION 1 B.M.W. Region

Border Midland and West Region

West of Ireland

Source: www.bmwassembly.ie

PERIPHERAL REGION 1 B.M.W. Region

Border Midland and West Region

West of Ireland

Some Figures from the Central Statistics Office

Disposable Income as a % of National Average in 2007

National Average Dublin West

100 110.8% 93.6%

This means people in the West Region earn on average nearly 7% less than the

average Irish income or about 17% less than the average Dublin income

Area, Population and Population Density 2010 Estimates

Area(km2) Population Pop. Density (per km2)

13,800 430000 31.15

(19.6% of Ireland) 9.6% of Total pop.

Primary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland Region

Agriculture

Fishing

Forestry

Mining & Energy

Agriculture

Agriculture in the west not very well developed due to

Physical Landscape: - mountains, very wet, poor peaty and gley soils not good

for growing crops

Small Farm Size: most farms in the area are quite small compared to other farms

in Ireland. They are typically 10 – 25 hectares in size. Graph

Age of Farmers: Over 50% of farmers in the west are 55 years of age or older

Location: Peripheral location – far from main Irish markets of Dublin and Cork

What type of agriculture takes place in the West of

Ireland Region?

What type of agriculture takes place in the West of

Ireland Region?

No good for crops such as wheat & barley – too wet and boggy

Grass for pasture is the main crop – used as winter fodder

Livestock rearing is the main focus – young animals raised until about 2 years

old and sold on to larger farms in Ireland

Any dairy farming is in the east of the region – lower lying and better quality

grass

Sheep farming carried out on hillsides. E.U. grants led to purchasing of more

sheep. Sheep population doubled between 1980 &1995 and resulted in

overgrazing. Roughly 27% of hillsides ruined by this

Common Agricultural Policy C.A.P.

Rural Environmental Protection Scheme R.E.P.S.

About 50% of farmers in the west are now part time

Fishing In The West of Ireland

Some Commercial Fish Species

Cod Mackerel

Herring Whiting

Atlantic Salmon Turbot

Sole Plaice

Ling John Dory

Prawns Shrimp

Brown Crab Spider Crab

Lobster Oyster

Abalone Mussels

Fishing

Has been a very important industry in the west. About 2000 people employed.

Many natural advantages for fishing in the west

Easy access to rich fishing grounds of the N.E. Atlantic map map2 map3

Many sheltered inlets and bays which give natural harbours map

Very little development in fishing until 1960’s – mostly small boats

Since E.U. membership 1973, fish catches & landings have increased

Fishing

PORT 1995 2002

Rossaveal 7,376 11,760

Achill 697 189

Carna 204 128

Aran Islands 92 55

Fish Landings in thousands of tonnes at West of Ireland fishing ports

Fishing Common Fisheries Policy C.F.P.

E.U. Policy

Aimed to protect fish from being overfished by

Banning fishing in certain areas

Introducing quotas

Controlling net sizes

Compensating skippers who scrap their boats

Total Allowable Catches T.A.C.’s set for E.U. countries

No. of fishing days limited to 9 days at sea per month in Atlantic Fishing grounds

Fishing

How has the C.F.P. affected fishing in the west?

Smaller ports not really used and most fish landed in Rossaveal

Less boats in the fleet but bigger

Less people employed in the fishing industry in the west

More processing onshore so increased employment here

Large increase in Aquaculture (fishfarming) map

Eg

1993 30,000 tonnes produced, by 2000 over 50,000 tonnes

Aquaculture is now roughly 50% of fish industry in the west by value

Forestry in the West of Ireland

Natural Climate of mild temperatures and plenty rain is good for forestry in

the West Region

Growth Rates up to 5 times higher than Scandanavia

Some yields up to 50% higher than east of Ireland (Why?)

Most forest area in the West are in lowlying sheltered areas

Over 30,000 hectares in the West covered by forestry (Coillte)

Grants also for private landowners to grow forests

Over 60% of all trees planted since 1980’s on poor quality land (Why?)

Areas now under forest include lowland between Westport &Newport and

around the shores of L. Conn, L. Corrib & L. Mask map

Mining and Energy

Peat has been used as a source of energy to generate electricity

It was used in a 40 megawatt power station in Bellacorick – closed in 2005

Bellacorick now has a 6.5 megawatt windfarm

2 megawatt station near Castlebar

NATURAL GAS

Corrib Gas Field – 70km West of Mayo in the sea – 394 m deep & 3000m

below seabed.

Map1 Map2

About 18 years supply of natural gas

Delayed due to local opposition

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Employment Category

Employment in the West Region

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

From 1920’s to 1960’s Government put large taxes on imports Tried to make Irish made products more competitive 2 main groups of secondary industries developed in the west as a result a.Food Processing : Small scale meat processing and dairy products eg Connaught Gold eg b.Textiles Many of these traditional industries closed down when Ireland joined the E.U. in 1973.

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Main Organisations responsible for development in West Region

Udarás na Gaeltachta

Industrial Development Authority – I.D.A.

EU Funding

a. Regional Development Fund – for education and training eg FÁS Schemes

b. Structural Funds – for building roads, bridges, tunnels, improving railways,

ports

West of Ireland used to qualify for these funds under EU Objective 1 status.

Now called Convergence Regions. Doesn’t anymore

During 1960’s & 1970’s lots of growth in manufacturing

Multinational companies located in rural peripheral areas due to

Government policies and grants

E.G. E.P.T.R. – Export Profit Tax Relief

Over 70 overseas IDA supported companies with operations in the West

region, employing about 13,000 people.

Their sectoral focus includes life sciences (mainly medical technologies)

accounting for 63% of IDA client company employment.

Engineering with 13%

IDA has a network of world-class Business & Technology Parks in the

West.

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Very difficult for the West Region to compete with manufacturing in lower

cost countries eg Asian countries

Where are your Nike/Adidas runners made?

Where are your Soccer jerseys made?

Jobs lost in textiles in Gaeltacht areas from over1,100 in 1996 to less

than 700 in 2001

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Job Losses in the West Region

Case Study:- Ballina, Co Mayo

Over 700 jobs lost in manufacturing since 2000

Company 2000 2007

Roewear 195 20

Oasis Plant 300 15

Gencorp 250 0

Volex 230

(1000 in 1995)

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Why such a loss of manufacturing jobs in Ballina?

Competition from low-wage economies

Poor transport & communication networks

Cost of business increasing – energy, labour, refuse charges

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

What type of manufacturing is most suited to the West region?

High Value and Lower Cost e.g. Electronics

CASE STUDY – SELC Ireland

Based in Belmullet, Co. Mayo

60 people employed

Make control systems for public lights and signage systems

95% of Output is exported.

Exports to UK, Europe, US, Japan, Carribbean, Australia

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Manufacturing in Galway City

Galway City has experienced growth – unlike the rest of the West Region

53% increase in population 1986 – 47000, 2006 – 71983

4% increase in rest of region in the same period

Some Employment Statistics for Galway City

Company What do they do? No. of Employees

Boston Scientific Medical Equipment 2,500

Nortel Telecommunications 300

ADC Software 150

Ingersoll Rand Engineering 550

Secondary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

Manufacturing in Galway City

What advantages does Galway City have for industrial development?

Main City in the West Region

Nodal Point – Main intersection of road, rail and sea transport

Well educated workforce – 3rd level graduates

UCG (University College Galway) and GMIT (Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology)

Approximately 21,500 students

Attractive place to live and work

Modern, Purpose built industrial estates

Tertiary Economic Activities in the

West of Ireland

TOURISM (The links below are not active)

Tourism Ireland1 Tourism 2 West Ireland Clip

West Ireland 4 Surfing News Surfing West Coast

Volvo Race Volvo Galway

Volvo 2009

Over 650,000 visitors to the city

Volvo 2012

Worth between 60 and 80 million to the economy

Tourism worth 500 million to region annually

Galway County and City also have strong indigenous clusters of

enterprise development in the fields of biomedical engineering,

pharmaceuticals and in software development and electronics.

Traditional industries in the County have been agriculture,

manufacturing, forestry, fishing and tourism. Industrial development has

tended to cluster around Galway City. Farms are generally small, so

part-time farming is the norm as people try to supplement their farm

income with income from other work. Tourism supplies seasonal

employment in Connemara and the Islands.

In total, there are over 70 overseas IDA supported companies with

operations in the West region, employing about 13,000 people. Their

sectoral focus includes life sciences (mainly medical technologies)

accounting for 63% of IDA client company employment, information &

communication technologies with 17%, engineering with 13% and

international services with 7%. IDA has a network of world-class

Business & Technology Parks in the West. These parks are fully serviced

with all the necessary telecommunications and utilities infrastructure to

cater for the needs of overseas clients.

Butter

Milk

Cheese Yoghurt

Cream

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Transport In The Western Region

Road

Rail

Air

Sea

Main Road Network

Airports

Railways

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Moooo!