Planning and Environmental Policy Research Series Working Papers 2005 Strategic Spatial Planning and Contested Ruralities: Insights from the Republic of Ireland

Since the publication of the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), a growing body of literature has emerged related to European spatial planning. Much of this literature is focused on the influence of the ESDP on city regions and urban policy in individual member states. Much less attention has been paid thus far to the influence of the ESDP on the formulation of spatial strategies and plans for rural areas. Within this context, this paper aims to explore the formulation of a national framework for spatial development in the Republic of Ireland, and in particular to examine the expression given to rural development and planning issues. This paper reviews the extent that the Irish National Spatial Strategy can provide a basis for a spatially defined (rather than sectoral based) rural policy by examining the policy construction of rurality and how this will impact on three aspects of rural planning policy: the conceptualisation of the urban-rural relationship; managing rural settlements; and rural development. The paper concludes by developing wider lessons from the Irish example in the application of the EU discourse of spatial planning to rural regions, and the difficulties associated with developing and implementing spatial policies in a deeply contested rural arena. Correspondence to: Mark Scott, Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland. Tel: +353-1-716 2687; Fax: +353-1-716 2788; E-mail: [email protected] Citation: M. Scott (2005). “Strategic Spatial Planning and Contested Ruralities: Insights from the Republic of Ireland”, Planning and Environmental Policy Research Series (PEP) Working Paper 05/03, Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin. PEP 04/01 University College Dublin 2 Strategic Spatial Planning and Contested Ruralities M. Scott