There are a number of interventions that are included in this OP that were supported under the inter-regional OPs 2000-2006, namely:
National Roads
Public Transport
SEI and Renewable energy
RTDI
This OP builds on the success and progress achieved under the previous investment plan. In the following sections, we present some of the key achievements that are relevant in the context of this OP. In addition, the terms of reference of the update report on the mid-term evaluation of the BMW Regional OP included a requirement for the appointed consultant to identify interventions that should be prioritised for inclusion in the successor OP.
Progress on the National Roads Priority under the NDP/CSF 2000-2006 is significant. Over the period January 2000 to June 2006, 63 major projects were completed and delivered a total of 475 kilometres of new national roads. 155.2 kilometres of this was of motorway standard, with 117.5 kilometres of dual carriageway standard. Progress to end June 2006 includes:
45.7% of the five Major Inter-Urban routes (MIUs ) had been completed to the required standard;
76.9% of the M50/development was complete;
level of Service D targets were achieved on the other National Primary Routes; and
travel time savings of 91 minutes have been achieved on the MIUs.
In addition, there are 25 major projects under construction at the end of June 2006 with a combined length of 312.6 km, of which 10 are in the BMW Region and 15 in the S&E Region. Projects in the BMW Region include:
N1/A1 Dundalk / Newry
Monaghan By-Pass Phase 1
Castleblayney By-pass
Longford/Drumsna (Dromond-Roosky By-Pass)
Kinnegad/Athlone By-Pass (Kinnegad-Kilbeggan)
Kinnegad/Athlone By-Pass (Kilbeggan-Athlone)
Mullingar By-Pass
Mullingar / Belvedere
Charlestown By-Pass
Mountain Top / Illistrim
Planning and design investment are underway on a further 70 major projects in both regions. Further improvements in the road network are required and this is a significant infrastructure priority for the region.
The update report on the mid-term evaluation of the BMW Regional OP identified investment in key roads linking gateways and hubs and their hinterlands as a priority for investment. This OP includes an intervention under Priority 3 to upgrade strategic secondary routes, linked with the designated growth centres which will help in the overall upgrading of the network.
Under the National Public Transport Measure there has been major investment in rail safety and upgrades of the rail network. Significant progress has been made, especially with regard to track renewal. Some of the main elements of progress include:
603.5 kilometres of track have been relayed, including significant track in the BMW region;
Significant work was undertaken in respect of safety bridges and fencing;
Improvements in the safety of level crossings have been made;
Investments under the Rural Transport Initiative (RTI);
Contract signed for delivery of 150 new regional rail cars;
Re-signalling work; and
Station re-development, including major works at Heuston Station, which serves the Midlands and West of Ireland.
The Department of Transport has given funding approval to extend the rail network Track and Signalling Project to the Westport and Ballina lines in the BMW Region. These improvements have led to time savings on many routes, in some cases quite significant savings. These improvements have been accompanied by strong growth in passenger numbers.
The update report on the mid-term evaluation of the BMW Regional OP identified investment in public transport linking urban areas and their hinterlands as a priority for investment under the 2007-13 programmes. This is also consistent with the need to address Ireland’s GHG emissions and the provision of public transport is an element of addressing the transport needs of socially excluded groups. Taking account of the importance of access to high quality public transport for economic, environmental and social reasons, the Managing Authority has included a public transport intervention that will support public transport infrastructure improvements in the BMW Region.
The levels of expenditure and the associated physical outputs under the Sustainable Energy Priority of the ESIOP have been somewhat lower than expected. The overall budget for this Measure was planned to be over €220 million, with €156 million earmarked for Energy Conservation and €67 million for Alternative/Renewable Energy over the period 2000-2006. Spending on this priority has been below the level envisaged. Despite this, some of the physical performance indicators are well on target. Under the Built-Environment Sub-Measure four of the five indicators seem well on target to achieve the 2006 goals. The extent of expenditure in the Alternative/Renewable Energy Measure has been lower than expectations, especially in the area of renewable energy connection to the Grid. However, progress in terms of connections has now accelerated.
Renewable energy and efficiency investments have an important role to play and have been identified as a priority for investment in the update report on the mid-term evaluation of the BMW Regional OP. Through a number of investments it is envisaged that this Operational Programme will contribute to these goals and build on the success achieved in the areas of energy efficiency under the 2000-2006 programme.
Over €1.7 billion has been spent on Research, Technological Development and Innovation since 2000. Of this, €1.1 billion has been spent on industry research and development. Over €134 millions worth of world class equipment have been funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. RTDI investment aims to continue and develop the support in key areas where public investment remains fundamentally necessary to sustainable economic growth and to encourage the transition to an economy based on knowledge and new technologies. This investment inter alia aims to develop intellectual infrastructure to ‘root’ overseas companies here through more extensive use of research based in Ireland; to persuade and encourage companies to develop their own research activities; and, to develop a world-class research environment in our higher education institutions.
The Audit of Innovation in the BMW Region, described in section 3.7 concluded that the volume of new start-up businesses in the BMW region is only half that in the S&E Region. Its overall conclusion was that the region had an innovation deficit and is less entrepreneurial than the S&E region. The inability to attract significant research funding is also an indication of this.
The update report on the mid-term evaluation of the BMW Regional OP identified the enhancement of research capacity, technology transfer and innovation networks as priorities for investment under the 2007-13 programmes. The Innovation, ICT and the Knowledge Economy Priority of this OP will build regional research, innovation and ICT infrastructure and capacity and increase the BMW Region’s contribution to Ireland’s R&D objectives as set out under the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.
