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 socioeconomic 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
RESOURCES MOVE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER
PERIPHERAL
REGIONS
Poorly QualityTransport
Marginal Location
Generally Rural
Lack of Jobs
Low Incomes
Sub Standard
Services
Raw Materials, People, Money, Profits,
Food
CORE REGIONS
Good Transport
Good Location
City
Lots of Jobs
High Incomes
V. Good Services
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
Fish Landings in thousands of tonnes at West of Ireland fishing ports
PORT
1995
2002
Rossaveal
7,376
11,760
Achill
697
189
Carna
204
128
Aran Islands
92
55
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
Employment in the West Region
18
16
% Employed
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Employment Category
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
Secondary Economic Activities in the
West of Ireland
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
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
230
(1000 in 1995)
0
Volex
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
Cream
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Milk
Cheese
Yoghurt
Transport In The Western Region
Road
Rail
Air
Sea
Main Road Network
Airports
Railways
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