THE DUBLIN REGION

Core Irish Region

The Dublin Region

Learning IntentionUnderstand how the physical Understand how the physical characteristics of the Dublin region can characteristics of the Dublin region can affect the area and its people, both affect the area and its people, both economically and socially.economically and socially.

Analyse the interaction between physical, Analyse the interaction between physical, economic and human processes in the economic and human processes in the region.region.

Compare and contrast the characteristics of Compare and contrast the characteristics of the Dublin region and the West of Ireland.the Dublin region and the West of Ireland.

Today’s Learning.....

Identify the region on a map of Ireland.

Draw an outline sketch map of Ireland.

Show the boundary of the Dublin region on this sketch map.

Identify a number of features in the region.

Map

Draw an outline sketch map of Ireland.

Mark and identify the Dublin region.

Locate and mark in; A river in the region A mountain range A mainCommunication link The main urban

centre

Exam Question

Todays Learning Intention

Review some general characteristics of the Dublin region

Examine the Dublin region’s physical processes Climate Soil Relief Drainage

Core Region

• It is a focal point/nodal point of the main road and rail

networks (with two sea ports and an international port).

• It is the financial and administrative capital (with the

seat of government).

• Well-drained lowland area with fertile soils and sheltered

harbours.

• High population density – 1 million people

• In-migration.

• Attracts industry due to young, educated workforce.

• It is a quickly growing region.

Physical Processes

ClimateSoilReliefDrainage

Climate Cool temperate

oceanic/maritime Warmer and drier than the

Western Region Temperatures: 16 ˚C in the

summer and average 5.5˚C in the winter

Rainfall: 800 mm of rainfall annually

Rainfall is lower than elsewhere in country

Rain shadow effect: most precipitation is lost before the Atlantic depressions reach the Dublin region

Rain-bearing south-westerly winds have less impact in this region

Daylight: the region receives

4 hrs sunshine per day

Growing season: is

approximately 270 days

Coastal location: less frost

in spring

Crops planted in the Dublin

region ripen earlier than

crops elsewhere

Soil

Brown earths Deep fertile soil - easily cultivated High humus content - deciduous forests covered

the region Alluvial deposits- local rivers Blanket bogs- Dublin Mountains

Market Gardening

North Dublin Marine, light, sandy soils Free draining Ideal for market gardening/horticulture

Growing salad crops in green houses for a nearby urban market

Soils in the Dublin Region

Relief & Drainage

Mainly lowland Undulating towards the north and west Good drainage Main rock type-limestone Permeable sedimentary rock -allows

water to drain freely Well-drained; River Liffey, Tolka and

Dodder

Pair-share....

Climate type? Hours of Sunshine? Temperature range? Days in the growing

season? Annual rainfall? Less frost..why? Main soil type? Main rock type? 3 rivers?

Comparison Table

Physical Characteristics

West of Ireland

Dublin Region

Climate

Soil

Relief

Drainage

Primary Economic Activities

Dublin Region

Agriculture

Dublin Region

Agriculture

Dublin region is highly productive and commercial Area only has about 1,500 farms,1% of the national

total Highly urbanised Farm incomes 40% higher than the national average Lowland Highly mechanised and

intensive E.g. -region produces

11% of the national wheat crop and 15% of the national potato crop

Deep, fertile soils High yields of tillage crops e.g. wheat

and barley Malting barley is used for the brewing

and distilling industry Protein-rich barley is used for animal

feed Farming output is high due to

demands of a nearby large and wealthy urban market

Due to close proximity to Dublin city transport costs are low

Age profile of farmers is lower than in the West Farmers are well educated – use a market orientated

and scientific approach Farmers specialise in market

gardening – migrant workers from Dublin city are used for labour

Cabbage & Onions main crops Farms are constantly under

threat from urban sprawl – encouraging farming to be intensive and profitable

Dublin Region

Fishing

Fishing

Main fishing port -Howth Third largest port in Ireland Value -€5 million Dublin Bay prawns- 40% of total shellfish

exported

Challenges...

Fishing declining Overfishing-1960s 35% of fish landed in Ireland-caught in

Dublin ports 3 % in 2000 Aquaculture limited Irish Sea more polluted than Atlantic

Ocean

Exam Question

Describe and explain any two physical factors that have influenced the development of agriculture in an Irish region studied by you. (30m)

Comparison Table

Primary Economic Activities

West of Ireland Dublin

Agriculture

Fishing

Secondary Economic Activities

Dublin Region

Secondary Economic Activities 25% Ireland’s manufacturing

industries 40% of people employed in the

manufacturing sector are in this region

Nodal point: a focus of routeways, rail and air networks

EU and worldwide markets Direct governmental involvement

during the 1990s resulted in 60% of all new industry developed in Dublin region

Low rate of corporate tax of 12.5% for new industries

Modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art telecommunication links and easily accessible industrial estates

Abundant well-educated workforce 80% of Ireland’s colleges are located in

the region

Low age profile- 45% of population under 25 years of age

Industrial output per worker is higher Manufacturing wages 10% higher

than the national average People of the Dublin region are

generally wealthier, this attracts producers of luxury-based goods

Location of the largest financial services sector in the country is in the IFSC in Dublin: businesses can avail of its financial management and business development advice services

Location of Industry

Traditional brewing and distilling, e.g. Guinness, and printing, e.g. Irish Independent

Modern growth industries of internet technology, e.g. Google, and pharmaceutical, e.g. Pfizer

Traditionally located within the city limits because of close proximity to the port and a good supply of local manual labour

Newer industries have tended to locate on the outskirts of Dublin city in close proximity to the M50 & Port Tunnel as it is easily accessible

Close to a large labour pool in the satellite towns More spacious sites available

Case Study

Wyeth/Pfizer Biopharmaceutical in Clondalkin

95 %of people employed in the plant have third level qualifications

Employs over 1,000 people

Just off the M50 Major contributor to

scientific research in Ireland Invested over €640 million

in Science Foundation Ireland

Manufacturing is also now widely dispersed

5 of the world’s top 10 software companies located here (Microsoft/Google)

Dublin region is highly dependent on foreign investment with over 800 of its companies from overseas and 350 of those US-based companies

Dependence on foreign investment is an issue that can worry the Irish government

However….

Irish Times; Sat 23rd Feb 2013 Since the beginning of this year, some 27 overseas

companies have announced new investments in Dublin involving the creation of more than 2,500 jobs across a variant of knowledge intensive sectors. Among these are household names such as PayPal, LinkedIn, Dell, Symantec, Allianz, Pfizer, Google and Accenture.

“Dublin is the engine of growth for foreign direct investment in Ireland,” says IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary. “Internationally, the city continues to become increasingly attractive to overseas investors, with a highly flexible talent pool offering and a strong cluster of world leading companies growing their presence.”

Exam Question

Describe and explain the development of secondary economic activities in an Irish region you have studied. (30m)

Explain two factors which influence either agriculture or industry in one Irish region studied by you. (30m)

Tertiary Economic Activities

Dublin Region

Tourism

The region is the main point of entry for visitors to the country

Benefited from the removal of Shannon as a stopover point

27 per cent of Irish visitors stay in region Tourism earns €1 billion for the region

annually In 2008 over 4 million tourists visited Dublin 90 per cent of all scheduled air flights to Ireland

land at Dublin airport A year round business

Main Tourist Attractions

Trinity College- Book of Kells Christchurch Cathedral Dublin Castle Four Courts Guinness Storehouse Museums Croke Park

Transport

Most efficient transport system in the country

Governmental investment under the NDP

Dublin port processes 50% of Irish trade Dublin airport is the largest in the

country and a major employer; it handled 20.9 million passengers in 2009

Well developed public transport system with Dublin Bus, DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) and the LUAS light rail system

Suffers badly from traffic congestion

Transport

90% of all commercial transport is by road

In 1997 during peak times traffic speed had been reduced in the city to 14 km per hour

Introduced the Transport 21 scheme In 2006 construction of Dublin Port

Tunnel Upgrade the M50 Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport opened

in 2010

Future Planning… Expansion of the DART lines to double

its capacity Expansion of QBCs New Luas lines Metro system A fivefold increase in taxi numbers Government need to introduce a

policy of higher density housing along public transport routes

This is in line with the European model of cities

Urban infill (inner city renewal & regeneration) is also a policy that could be investigated

Exam Question

Exam Question

Examine the development of tertiary economic activities in an Irish region that you have studied. (30m)

Revision Quiz... Round 1

1.Climate type? 2. Hours of Sunshine? 3. Temperature range? 4. Days in the growing season? 5. Annual rainfall? 6. Less frost..why? 7. Main soil type? 8. Main rock type? 9. 3 rivers?

10. Number of farms?

Revision Quiz...Round 2

1. Length of growing season? 2. Main market gardening crops? 3. Main fishing port? 4. Brewing company? 5. Number employed in Wyeth/Pfizer 6. % in Wyeth/Pfizer with 3rd level qualifications? 7. % of flights landing in Dublin? 8. Book of Kells stored here? 9. Dublin’s light rail system?

10. Year that airport T2 opened?

Human Processes

Dublin Region

Population Dynamics

Textbook page 267 Note 6 SRP’s

Urban – Rural Development / The Growth of Dublin

‘The boundaries of a city have expanded over time.’ Discuss.

Textbook page 268 - 270

Exam Questions

Examine the development of one urban area in any Irish region studied by you. (30m)

Regions can be defined by many factors including; Economic Human PhysicalExplain how any one of the above factors has

defined an Irish region studied by you. (30m)