The relative position of the South Eastern Region in a number of key areas. are presented below, with comparisons showing how the South East performs both in relation to the national position and the overall position of what might be termed "Rural Ireland", i.e. Ireland excluding Dublin.

It is clear that several of the problems highlighted earlier in this Strategy are not unique to Wexford but are instead shared across the South East. But whilst we have problems in common we have tended not to be very effective in dealing with them on a shared basis. Our local government
structure and the way we organise our national games have, for example, tended to foster a good inter-County rivalry. That is something which should be protected and nourished. But equally there are times when we have to move beyond that, to address things at a regional level and even
minimise competition between Counties.

In taking this stance,Wexford CDB is doing nothing more than bringing real life to one of its Guiding Principles, Partnership. The CDB does believe that by working together and trusting each other at Regional level we can achieve much more than if we work separately.

The areas for which we believe that a regional focus is required are

Each of these is dealt with in turn below.

THIRD LEVEL EDUCATION

A two-pronged approach is essential here, bringing together the enhancement of existing Third Level
provision along with the establishment of a specific University of the South East, with a campus
located in County Wexford. The resultant Third Level infrastructure needs to provide the highest quality education, which in turn should be as accessible as possible to all the people of the Region. It also needs to have as its driving aim the enhancement of local social; economic; and cultural life.

As a first step a forum bringing together the key educational stakeholders will be set up. Among
the tasks for that forum will be:

• to examine the Region's Third Level education needs
• to consider how those needs might best be met in a coherent and integrated way
• to set targets for achievement that
• will bring the Region's performance up to, at a minimum, that of the country overall.

Some of the approaches the CDB would like to see adopted include:

• shared teaching; research; and accreditation
• co-operation in outreach services; curriculum development; and international projects
• co-operation in distributing areas of expertise and focus between the Institutions and in supporting
• applications by Institutions for specialised centres and facilities
• sharing of physical resources and mutual recognition of modules
• development of new systems of administration and accreditation.

This forum should produce a report within 12 months of its formation and implementation should start
immediately following the acceptance of the report.

ENERGY PROVISION

The Strategy's Who We Are Theme presented in Section 9 already includes a focus on energy. We
recognise however that the most meaningful progress here can be made at the Regional level.
Accordingly the CDB supports the establishment of a South Eastern Region Energy Group to work under three broad headings. These, and the actions required under each, are as follows:

Energy Needs

• assess the strategic energy needs of the Region
• identify the means of satisfying these energy needs
• discuss the implications with existing energy suppliers
• develop an agreed energy Strategy for the Region.

Renewable Energy

• assess the Region's renewable energy potential
• establish regional targets for loca l supply of renewable energy
• identify the most suitable areas for the provision of renewable energy projects
• promote such projects by both the Region and local authorities

Energy Management

• establish a network of local Energy Agencies
• develop and implement co- operative projects in energy conservation

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The efficient and effective movement of people and goods remains central to the social; economic; and cultural well-being of all parts of the South- East. The CDB is thus committed to the following five strategic objectives for the Region:

• all county towns linked through rail and bus systems
• all county towns linked with the rest of the country through rail and road
• all towns with a population of over 1,000 linked with each other through the bus system
• all sea-ports developed and provided with levels of access that will ensure their benefit to the
  region
• the establishment of a viable airport that will enhance the economic and social life of the
  Region.

TOURISM

Wexford knows it has work to do in the tourism area but equally that there are major Regional issues involved here. As a first step to resolving those issues a Regional Tourism Strategy is required. This should focus on two main tasks:

• the development of facilities
• the marketing of tourism.

The Strategy will be based on the principles of sustainable tourism and will aim for an equitable spread of the benefits of tourism across the Region as a whole. It will build in as appropriate the South Eastern Regional Tourism Authority.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

As a starting point in this vital area, Wexford CDB is committed to the implementation of the existing Regional Information Society Strategy and Action Plan (SEISS). Beyond that the CDB believes a Regional ICT Task Group, bringing together the local authorities; Forfas; and the Third Level Institutions should be established. Among its tasks should be:

• implementation of the SEISS Report
• ongoing assessment of Regional ICT needs
• identification of barriers to ICT development
• dissemination of information about network developments

An overview should also be maintained of the various local authorities' work in developing cabling at local levels.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Whilst the five areas listed above for Regional co-operation and collaboration are sector or issue- specific, this final area is much more generic. As a matter of principle the following should apply when a major development proposal is being considered within any County in the Region:

• the Regional implications will be considered as part of the appraisal process
• cross-County support for the proposal will be sought
• where Counties have competing claims or ambitions a consensus- seeking process will be put in
  place
• if consensus cannot be obtained, Regional support for projects cannot be expected.

An agreed mechanism, involving an officer from each of the Region's local authorities, will be put in place to take forward the principles outlined above.

LINKING WITH OTHERS

The CDB is convinced that County- based strategies and action plans should complement regional and national policies; strategies; and plans. That belief lies at the heart of our Partnership and Integration Guiding Principles. The process however has to be a two-way one. It is therefore
essential that the Board, and its members, make sure that County- based strategies in turn inform and influence thinking and activity at the regional and national levels.

       
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