Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy initiative to make Ireland a better country for all of us, a country that reflects the best of who we are and what we aspire to be.
By 2040, the Irish population is estimated to rise by over 1 million people and 75% of this increase is predicted to occur outside Dublin. Project Ireland 2040, is designed to manage this large increase in population, concentrating on the cities Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford and making them more attractive locations to work in.
After this National Population Framework was designed to determine where the most suitable locations are situated, The National Development Plan of Project Ireland 2040 was formed to decide on the most effective ways of making these locations more attractive, including:
- Building and improvement of public transport, as well as new roads and motorways, E.g. the Atlantic Corridor road network to link Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo directly.
- Large school projects to deal with an estimated increase of 20,000 new students each year.
- New ambulatory elective-only hospitals built in Cork, Dublin and Galway, dealing with the growing increase in waiting lists.
- Renovation of the National Library, National Archives and National Museum
- The renewal of rural towns and villages, making them more attractive locations to live and work in.
With the lack of skilled workers remaining in the Irish construction industry, this is one of the reasons why some of the main goals of Project Ireland 2040 may not be successful. Some of the other reasons include:
- The number of skilled apprentices that left the country during the recession.
- The rising number of millennials born between the early 80s and mid-90s, with a greater interest in computers and modern technology, compared to physical labor.
- The lack of female apprentices.
- The retirement of skilled workers born during the Baby Boom (the mid-1940s to mid-1960s)
One of the aims of Project Ireland 2040 is to build 25,000-30,000 houses annually. It has been estimated that at least 110,000 workers will be required in the construction industry during the next three years to meet these goals. Some of the main ideas to make Project Ireland 2040 successful, by attracting and retaining this large number of workers are:
- The increased use and introduction of modern technology in the construction industry, making it more appealing for millennials.
- Increasing the importance of safety, perhaps with workshops or hiring a safety manager.
- Co-mentoring, giving young apprentices the responsibility of explaining the benefits of new technology, while they are being trained by experienced workers.
- Increasing the importance of teamwork.
Download the ebook “Project Ireland 2040” and learn:
- What the main plans of Project Ireland 2040 involve.
- Challenges in making Project Ireland 2040 successful. Â
- Making Project Ireland 2040 successful by attracting and retaining workers.