1. 1
A National Landscape Strategy for Ireland
Strategy Issues Paper for Consultation
'
Maam Bothan' Rushing wind and water around a tigeen near Maam Cross, County Galway.
credit: /irish-landscape-paintings.html
Submission to:
THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE AND
THE GAELTACHT
By:
Aidan J. ffrench MILI Landscape Architect
Past President, The Irish Landscape Institute
16 November 2011

2. 2
Irish Landscapes are an expression of our cultural, artistic and land shaping legacies.
As such they add value to human well-being, nature and economy.
The renewal and creative transformation of the Republic should be one where these landscapes are placed at the centre of a healthy, happy,
viable and sustainable society and its diversity of communities
This submission is dedicated to the memory of John O’Donohue - poet, philosopher, priest -and lover of the
landscapes of Co. Clare, in all their mystical power to resonate in the human heart and stir the spirit!
.

3. 3
Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Vision, Values and Rewards!
3. Stewardship and Public Engagement
4. Policy and Legislation
5. Delivery - Capacity and Resources
Appendices A: Extracts from the 'Croke Park Agreement'
Appendix B: References, Sources and Resources

4. 4
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fit for Purpose?
The Issues Paper is technocratic and dangerously placed to be subsumed into a fog of civil service inertia. Crucially, it
places little or no obligation on the State to commit resources to the protection, conservation, management and
enhancement of Irish Landscapes.
Finding a Shared Vision
The Paper sets out "high level objectives" without providing a vision upon which objectives might be based. In the
absence of a vision, there is no clear direction.
Resource Constraints
The Paper seems to abrogates the State's high level responsibility by burdening an already, overloaded, local
government system1
. In doing so it does not addressing chronic, underlying deficiencies in professional landscape
expertise that would deliver tangible results.
In addition, the Paper fails to take a creative approach to resolving these deficiencies by using the provisions of the
Croke Park Agreement. These inadequacies can be addressed by practical solutions based around the Government
Public Sector Reform programme, which are outlined in this submission (see section 5 and Appendix A).
Engaging Civil Society
The Issues Paper needs to include specific proposals for public participation, that are based on the Aalborg Charter.
Current models of progressive, democratic decision-making at the most appropriate scale do exist in Ireland. Among
those most likely to provide guidance in design participatory proposals are the Bantry Bay Charter, Dublin Mountains
Partnership, Burren Beo and Wicklow Uplands Council. The Department should consider bringing on board the
environmental platform of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of the Partnership era.
Specific Questions and Comments
1. Where or what is the Proposed Landscape POLICY?
The Issues Paper clearly fails to both state vision or policy, so are we to assume that there is no policy? What policy is
being 'strategized'? The ELC is not national policy, but a pan-European Convention. Where is Ireland's landscape policy
clearly and separately stated?
In 2002 the Heritage Council published a ‘Policy Paper on Ireland’s Landscape and the National Heritage’, which sought to direct
national policy What is the status or this policy? Why it is not cited in the Issues Paper. It would seem that the
Department missed a clear opportunity to frame a policy statement in the Issues Paper?
2. The overall thrust is welcome; the formal State recognition of the need to transpose Ireland's ELC
obligations into a policy framework is long-overdue. However there is a distinct lack of urgency in that
recognition, that is reflected in the Paper's unnecessarily lengthy implementation programme.
the proposed systematic approach to Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is welcome2
1
To date, over 6,700 people have left the local government service under the Croke Park Agreement
2
But while LCA is an important and useful tool, it does not represent the sum total of Landscape Impact Assessment
which is barely mentioned in the Paper (see I.L.I submission)

5. 5
the emphasis on Awareness-raising and Education is significant and potentially of immense significance.
there are some glaring omissions and poorly-phrased statements, often duplicated in the Paper.
3. The Paper is very unwieldy, wordy and makes for poor accessibility and difficult navigation, especially
for non-specialists such as landowners and local communities:
A non-technical summary would assist non-specialists to engage the issues.
Greater use of pictures, graphics, tables and bulleted list would have helped greatly.
The document should not be so obtuse and technical
A peer-review team comprised of ILI representatives and related professional should be engaged by the
Department to guide the next edition
4. The document fails to include two key areas of landscape practice that are essential to any national
policy framework, namely Landscape Design and Landscape Management3
(see also ILI submission). Both are
crucial to the implementation of the ELC, which requires ratifying states such as RoI to include landscape
enhancement and improvement in their policies and strategies.
A clear Policy Statement should be included that would draw on current and enhanced elements in DoEHLG’s
planning guidelines and on international best practice. The Statement would focus on the contribution of Landscape
Design (new and improved landscapes) and Landscape Management (conservation and protection) to the agreed
Vision and Policy. I would envisage a logical flow through to strategy statements aimed at achieving clear policy
objectives for raising the quality values of Irish landscape through Design and Management.
4. The emphasis on LCA and LCA methodology and process is understandable. While the document focuses very
much on LCA in relation to Land Use and Spatial Planning, it fails to relate LCA to or related methodologies to
other the vital contribution of landscape practice to such categories of briefs, as for example:-
Agri-Eco-Tourism/REPS (CAP reform, urban horticulture, , outdoor pursuits and leisure)
Resource Management (e.g. coastal zone management for seascapes)
Transport Planning (landscape studies for route selection, EIS and design),
Extractive Industry (landscape restoration and renewal)
Again, a clear policy statement would resolve this problem.
5. The document refers to other Government documents, such as the Climate Change Strategy and the
National Spatial Strategy. But, it fails to clearly demonstrate how a National Landscape Strategy would be
practically-related to these the critical issues.
This is unfortunate as landscape has much to contribute to the transformation envisaged in President Higgins'
inaugural speech, the National Development Plan and a whole suite of environmental policies produced by COMHAR,
the Environmental Protection Agency, the DoEHLG and the NESC. The potential contribution of landscape
3
ELC defines Landscape Management as, "'Landscape management' means action, from a perspective of sustainable
development, to ensure the regular upkeep of a landscape, so as to guide and harmonise changes which are brought
about by social, economic and environmental processes.."

6. 6
architecture to climate change adaptation and mitigation can be seen in the several recent and ongoing initiatives in
other countries, for example:
USA - see cities of Portland and Seattle work on green infrastructure and stormwater management/green roofs
Australian Institute of Landscape's Climate Change Initiatives [http://www.aila.org.au/climate/]
Germany - see Berlin State Senate's Landscape Planning and Urban BioType standards
2. Vision, Values and Rewards!
The Paper sets out "high level objectives" without providing a vision upon which objectives might be based.
"I wonder is it possible to write a simple short statement, a vision of what we want for the Irish landscape? If we can write that and
accommodate it within all the social, economic, developmental, protective and other needs everything else will flow from that vision."
(Professor Michael Ryan, Heritage Council's Landscape Conference April 1999)
Twelve years on and I certainly believe that it is still possible to write a vision. In the current social and political
climate, every area of public policy is open to interrogation and reformulation. A national conversation is required and
to some degree is already underway.
Moreover, for any policy framework to be successful in implementation, it must be express societal acceptance of
landscape's significance to daily living, recreation and economy. It must be grounded in the reality of Irish people's
daily lives and legitimate aspirations to ‘A Better Quality of Life for All4
'. So, such a vision shall be all-embracing,
in the public interest, leading to the notion of our Shared Irish Landscapes, based on the following principles:
leadership from professionals, policy makers, communities working together
Landscape as inherently-valued beyond human existence (moving beyond utilitarianism)
Spiritual and Psychological dimensions of identity and belonging5
The landscapes of Ireland are not owned by or 'belong' to any one or group. They are a dynamic, shared cultural legacy.
While this may seem obvious to some, it is arguable whether it has been fully embraced by the majority of landowners,
developers, policymakers and politicians. This is a failure of communication as much as one of cultural conditioning.
The Vision should be underpin the rights and aspirations of the public interest and civil society as during the
forthcoming debate arising from the Government's planned 2012 Constitutional Review. Likewise the call for a
transformative republic in President Higgins inaugural speech6
and his proposed citizen seminars could provide a
useful avenues elevate landscape in the national consciousness.
A national Landscape Vision must go beyond legalistic considerations of individualist concerns of land ownership, and
utilitarianism. Striking a balance of competing interests and findings will be one of the key challenges for the national
conversation. The work of Landscape Alliance Ireland since the early 1990’s and that of the Heritage Council and others
demonstrates an embryonic pathway to such visioning (e.g. LAI ‘Landscape Circles’ concept).
4
‘A Better Quality of Life for All’. Transforming Ireland National Development Plan 2007-2013. The same title was used
by the Irish Urban Forum in its February 2007 pre-General Election manifesto.
5
For the concept of Landscape as Memory see the late John O'Donohue’s deeply moving and profound book, ‘Eternal
Echoes – Civic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong’. 2000. Harper Perennial Books).
6
President’s Higgins speech is available at www.president.ie/index.php?section=5&speech=1035

7. 7
The necessary skills set to facilitate, moderate and lead such public discourse exists. Such an approach would be
designed to act as a simultaneous top-down and bottom-up programme.
Rewards
So what rewards or return might such a Vision present for State, Government and society?
The following practical benefits are conceivably achieved, provided a cogent, coherent policy and strategy emerge:
Less contentious and controversial roll-out of infrastructure projects that impact on landscapes (e.g tourism-,
transportation- and energy-intrusive projects such as M3 Tara/Skyrne Valley, M50 Carrickmines and Shell to Sea,
Ballinaboy, Co. Mayo)
More effective and efficient use of public monies, human resources and skills
Easy management of the dynamics of Landscape Change – foreward planning at regional and local levels
Urbanism
Over 60% of the Irish population now live in cities and towns (CSO 2006 Census of Population). The ELC definition of
landscape address the issue of what may be termed, 'ordinary, everyday landscapes'. The Preamble to the ELC states
that signatory States acknowledge that the landscape:-
"isanimportantpartofthequalityoflifeforpeopleeverywhere:inurbanareasandinthecountryside,indegradedareasaswellas
inareasofhighquality,inareasrecognisedasbeingofoutstandingbeautyaswellaseverydayareas
;The Issues Paper fails to adequately address the opportunities offered by Landscape Design and Landscape
Management to connect with people and communities where they lives, work and recreate in non-protected
landscapes (e.g Natura 2000), such as industrial, marketing and retail parks, transport corridors, seascapes and
regional and local parks and open spaces.
The policy framework should illustrate, by case studies, how best Irish and international practice7
can contribute
practically to improving Irish people's Quality of Life. The ILI 2008 Exhibition of work by members is a useful resource
in this regard.
Case studies (e.g. Burren Beo, Co. Clare) should show the practically application of policy to tacking legacy of
unsustainable spatial planning decisions of the 'boom' era, through Landscape Design, and Management (e.g
enhancement, restoration and renewals projects:-
1. peri-urban farming
2. hydrology - conservation floodplains
3. ghost estates retail marketing at perimeters of urban 'doughnuts'
4. suburbanisation8
,
5. Green Infrastructure and Open Space Strategies
Illustrate the cross-cutting links of Irish landscapes as they relate to urban Green Infrastructure at metropolitan (e.g
Greater Dublin Area), regional and local scales and networks (see Regional Planning Guidelines GDA 2011-2016).
7
See Landscape Urbanism http://landscapeurbanism.com/
8
Social and Spatical Geography research by NUI Maynooth’s N.I.R.S.A may be useful here

8. 8
3. Stewardship and Public Engagement
Irish landscapes are often contested places and territories, particularly when planned changes, arising from building
and infrastructural projects, fail to incorporate dynamics of landscape management and genuine public participation in
decision-making. The debacles over Tara/Skyrne Valley, Glen of the Downs and M50 Carrickmines are key examples.
Some of this is exacerbated by a historic culture that evokes a visceral, utilitarian - rather than an ethos of
stewardship - and consumptive attitude to land9
; and in the absence of such progressive measures as Land Value
Taxation, makes for an emotive cocktail of democratic deficits, parochialism and poor project outcomes. The
worst manifestations of this malaise was during the Celtic Tiger's building/development frenzy and focus on self-
aggrandisement, inflated land values and a purely rights-based, individualist focus to land and landscape.
This is not to deny the legitimate aspiration and need for land as an economic resource, for making a living;
'Living Landscapes'. However the is clearly a need for 'healing' and listening between the various, often competing
interests at national and local levels. The landscape policy framework must include mechanism that are designed to
prevent and if necessary resolve contentious changes and impact on ordinary and protected landscapes.
The Department's previous work in Comhairle na Tuaithe under Minister O'Cuiv is one example of high-level
collaboration between farmers and landowners concerns of hiking and countryside access, maintenance and liabilities.
Also there a re grounds for hope and models, often based on 'bottom-up' democracy that can be adopted and adapted
such as:
Bantry Bay Charter, Co. Cork (see
Wicklow Uplands Council
Lough Boora Parklands
S.R.U.N.A Projects (Dublin-East Region, late 1990' EU funded - IRL, SWE)
4. Policy and Legislation
In management theory, strategy is the means to achieve and implement policy. Since the Issues Paper clearly fails to
express a vision or policy, can we assume that there is no policy? And that the document is merely a technical exercise
in honour ELC obligations? If there is, what policy is being 'strategized'? Where is Ireland's landscape policy clearly and
separately stated?
In 2002 the Heritage Council published a ‘Policy Paper on Ireland’s Landscape and the National Heritage’, which sought to
direct national policy by placing strong emphasis on a “truly integrated approach to our landscape”. The Council highlighted
the holistic definition of landscape by stating “It is important at this point to stress that, in considering landscape, the
Council is considering the whole landscape.” This statement reflects the ELC definition which includes embraces both
protected and so-called ordinary landscapes.
9
The lust for land and property in Ireland is perhaps best exemplified in J.B Keane's notorious play, 'The Field''. Urban
Ireland is no less contaminated as evidenced by the excesses of the sprawling boom with its myriad 'ghost estates' and
iconic 'landmark' buildings.

9. 9
The Heritage Council’s policy paper was, I understand submitted to the Department of Environment, Heritage and
Local Government (DoEHLG). What is the status or this policy? Why is not cited in the Issues Paper. Why did it not
provide the basis for framing a policy statement in the Issues Paper?
Throughout the Paper, "policy" is confused with "strategy" - a great disappointment and surprising given the length and
breadth of debates over the last 17 years, which spoke of policy (e.g Landscape Alliance Ireland's National Landscape
fora [1990s's], various Heritage Council landscape conferences, publications and articles in Heritage Outlook.
A revised document should be developed that clearly expresses Landscape as an overarching concept (c/f ILI - ‘The
Landscape Approach’), acting as an 'umbrella' for a diverse, currently disparate range, of goals within the Programme
for Government 2011-2016. Framing this 'umbrella' will bring multiple, cross-sectoral benefits to public policy,
particularly in areas currently within the remit of the State's Agreement with the IMF, ECB, EU Troika.
Specifically the Landscape Approach provides a realistic, measurable and deliverable framework that can direct the
enhancement of public and private services, make savings and focus investment priorities in the following key areas of
our socio-economic transformation:
'Smart and Green Economy'
Adult Education (e.g green jobs in urban forestry)
Sports and Leisure (e.g expansion of Capital Sports Grants)
Tourism (e.g regional identity initiatives, Green Box, Gold Coast etc.)10
Infrastructure Development and Energy11
Local and Regional Governance
Primary and Public (Preventative) Healthcare
To take just one area - Primary and Public and Public (Preventative) Healthcare - where the Government's health
strategy is currently under review; the State should liaise with the Scottish Executive is successfully delivering
efficiencies and beneficial outcomes by linking social and economic goals via its high level environmental policies.
Much of this work has been achieved through collaborative work using partnerships led by Greenspace Scotland,
Scottish NHS and the Glasgow Green Network, measured through Social Return on Investment methodologies12
.
These policies evolved from Scottish Government's Principles and Priorities The Government’s Programme for
Scotland' (Sept. 2007):. This sets out the overall Purpose of Government: "..to focus government and public services on
creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth."
Working across the five overarching strategic objectives: "wealthier & fairer, smarter, healthier, safer & stronger
and greener" (see Appendix C for more details). There are clear parallels in the Irish Government's desire to deliver
'A Better Quality of Life for All'. However the Scots have put in place the necessary practical mechanisms and
resources; we've yet to do so.
10
See Fáilte Ireland's 2006-2013 Product Development Strategy'
11
See ILI's recent submission to Dept.
12
Demonstrating the Links: action research on greenspaces. Greenspace Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland.

10. 10
Message
In Ireland the inherent values of landscape as an outdoor have yet to be systematically taped to achieve stated
Government goals13
. The potential for reducing teenage diabetes, suicide and enhancing the lives of elderly citizens is
enormous, while achieving savings in public expenditure.
Proposal
Ministers and senior officials in the Departments of Health and Children, HSE, Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, together
with the DoEHLG should be directed to engage with in equivalent in the Scottish Executive, NHS and Greenspace
Scotland.
Legislation
Why not a Landscape Ireland Act, as called for by HC? An Irish version of the Catalan Landscape Act 2005 would
make clear to all stakeholders the status of the NLS and would makes clear the Government's sincerity and
commitment to landscape. Without legal status, a ‘toothless’ policy framework in danger of being just another pious
aspiration, open to a myriad interpretations and obfuscation.
5. Delivery - Capacities and Resources
Context
The Strategy is explicit in its reliance on regional and local authorities to deliver many of the strategic actions.
However, in the current climate of retrenchment this raises the question of their capacity to deliver?
(1) The Strategy fails to acknowledge the severe deficiencies in human resources, specifically in the key
profession of Landscape Architecture. Crucially, those with very skills set to lead and assist in implementation are
missing. Thus the complete lack of qualified Landscape Architects in any Irish Government departments, especially in
Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and in Environment, Community is a critical constraint and barrier to progress. This has been
a longstanding deficiencies which remained unresolved prior to and during the recent economic ‘bubble’ boom.
Again there are key deficiencies as very few, if any local authorities in the State have any in-house expertise in
Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning and Landscape Management; only the Dublin authorities employ
qualified landscape professionals. Attempts to elicit statistical information from the DoEHLG in 2005 by
Parliamentary Question only served to illustrate how little the profession figures on political or civil service agendas.
Ireland's is comparably weak in this regard, when compared to more progressive EU Member States, especially in the
Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway and the U.K. In these States, municipal, local and regional
authorities employ full-time and contract landscape professionals to work on landscape policies and strategies. The
Netherlands has employed full-time State Landscape Architect to advise the relevant senior level cabinet minister at
Government level.
13
See Institute of Public Health '

11. 11
Public Sector Reform
I acknowledge the Government’s intention to abolishing, merging or rationalising them under a new programme of
public service reform. Rationalisation, cost-saving measures are necessary. But of equal importance is a need to re-
establish public trust in the abilities to deliver. Mindful of such constraints I wish to offer some concrete solutions, in a
of what is practically conceivable and achievable.
There is flexibility in the Croke Park Agreement (CPA) [see Appendix A of this submission) to relax the Public
Sector Recruitment Embargo in special, exceptional circumstances. The formulation and implementation of a
National Landscape Strategy is one such exception.
The planned departure of over 20,000 public servants – more than 6,300 local authority employees have already left
the service it – provides an opportunity for re-configuring delivery of services and re-deployment. Indeed, the Croke
Park Agreement recognises these opportunities by stipulating specific measures aimed at maximising efficiency and
effectiveness, as for example in the procurement of shared services between authorities.
The CPA states under a clause headed ‘Performance and Skills’ - that,
“13. The parties agree that, in order to ensure a high performing, high productivity Public Service, appropriately skilled
personnel from outside the Public Service will be recruited to secure scarce and needed skills at all levels. Merit-based,
competitive promotion policies will be the norm.” [underlining is mine]
Proposal
Establish a high level Landscape Unit within the Department, comprising a small, specialist team of dedicated to
the implementation of the Strategy.14
The team should be led by a senior grade Landscape Architect who would lead
and direct specialists in landscape planning and management, ecology and spatial and land use planning:-
The team would avail of internal external expertise from researchers and practioners in social and physical
geography, agronomy, archaeology, agriculture, forestry, ‘green’ economics, tourism and social anthropology. A
useful model might be developed by examining how such teams operate in our fellow EU Members States (e.g.
The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) and further afield (New Zealand, USA, Canada and Australia). Liaison with
the European Federation of Landscape Architects and the world body (IFLA) would be fruitful in such
endeavours.
Funding opportunities for knowledge-sharing and best practice exchanges may be sourced from the EU-Life-
Nature and INTERRIG grants programmes, the UNEP Programme in the United Nations; and from various
Ireland-USA co-operative initiatives in the arts, cultural and business sectors, via the global Irish Diaspora
networks.
14
See also ILI submission (p.3): "Assign responsibility for driving of the Strategy Actions ...."

12. 12
APPENDIX A - Extracts from the 'Croke Park Agreement'
Source: http://implementationbody.gov.ie/r [underlined italicised text is mine]
1. Extracts from CPA
Re-deployment
“6. The Government gives a commitment that compulsory redundancy will not apply within the
public service, save where existing exit provisions apply. This commitment is subject to
compliance with the terms of this Agreement and, in particular, to the agreed flexibility on
redeployment being delivered. To that end, the redeployment arrangements referred to below
will include opportunities for re-skilling and re-assignment as a key method to retain and secure
employment in comparable roles in the public service.”
Reconfiguring the design and delivery of public services
“9.” .. public bodies and management and individual public servants will have to work more closely across sectoral, organisational and
professional boundaries when designing and delivering services. The greater integration of the Public Service will not be achieved through the
creation of a single organisation. Instead, the focus will be on having fewer organisations in total, working more closely together, to deliver
cost effective public services. The Parties recommitted to engaging at a national, sectoral and local level to achieve specified and measurable
outcomes in relation to cost containment, service integration and reconfiguration as well as to engaging staff in progressing change.
10. In order to maximise productivity gains, both from how work is organised and from streamlining procedures, processes and systems to
allow for shared services and e-government developments, a substantial commitment to the redesign of work processes will be necessary. The
parties will co-operate with the drive to reduce costs through organisational rationalisation and restructuring and by service delivery
organised in different ways or delivered by different bodies. The aim is to minimise duplication of effort, reuse data within the public system
and
Performance and Skills
13. The parties agree that, in order to ensure a high performing, high productivity Public Service, appropriately skilled personnel from outside
the Public Service will be recruited to secure scarce and needed skills at all levels. Merit-based, competitive promotion policies will be the
norm.
Sectoral agreements
14. The parties agree that there will be full cooperation with the arrangements made in the agreements for each sector which are appended to
this document. The parties further agree to work further to develop new collaborative approachesat a local, sectoral or public service level,
including cross sectoral redeployment within the parameters agreed, to deliver significant cost efficiencies while protecting the quality and
effectiveness of services provided to the public.
Note: sections 13 and 14 above offer the key opportunities necessary to establish the proposed
Landscape Unit, as described in my submission.
2. Developments of Implementation in the Local Government Sector
( - ) Summary of Progress in the Local Government Sector

13. 13
In mid -08 local authorities employed 37,243 Whole Time Equivalent (or WTEs) staff. By March 2010 the
number had fallen by 5,298. Numbers are down by a further 1,323 to 30,622 over the first year of the
Croke Park Agreement (to March 2011).
In addition to the reduction in payroll costs, the Local Government sector has also achieved non-pay savings
of €81.1m in the first year of the Agreement. These savings arise from restructuring, productivity and
performance measures, greater use of shared services and procurement, e-Government initiatives and
redeployment.
Greater use of shared services has led to non-pay savings of approximately €3m and, joint procurement
actions have led to savings of €26m. An example is a joint initiative by Fingal and South Dublin County
Councils on an energy tender which led to savings of €4.1m.
Local Authorities have also succeeded in avoiding costs of €61.1m over the first year, due to measures taken by
local authorities on restructuring, shared services and procurement, introduction of online services and
electronic payments, redeployment and increased productivity and performance.
A key deliverable under the Public Service Agreement is that work carried out by departing staff must be
absorbed by the remaining staff while at the same time maintaining services. In this regard, local authorities
have introduced new work practices, rosters and other initiatives to deal with the reduction in numbers and
have been proactive in reducing overtime and allowances.
Local authorities have also introduced initiatives to improve the delivery of services to the public, for example;
development of map based information portals, providing access to services and amenity information.
developing corporate websites with full ranges of e-payment options.
integrating systems thus avoiding duplication.
cross service customer service desks providing multi services through telephone and in house queries.
using inter-department teams to allow for easier access to services by members of the public.

14. 14
Appendix B
References, Sources and Resources
A. References and Sources
1. ‘A Better Quality of Life for All’. Transforming Ireland National Development Plan 2007-2013
2. ‘A Better Quality of Life for All’. Manifesto. General Election 2007. The Urban Forum. Feb.2007,Dublin.
3. A Manifesto for Irish Landscapes. Irish Landscape Institute. Spring 2007.
4. A Dangerous Deception. John Fitzgerald. The Local Planet. May 2005.
5. Policy Paper on Ireland's Landscape and the National Heritage. 2002. The Heritage Council, Kilkenny.
6. The Landscapes we deserve, if only..Michael Starrett, CEO Heritage Council. October 2009.'Landscape Highlights' Heritage
Outlook 2004-2009.
7. Landscape and sustainable development: challenges of the European Landscape Convention. July 2006. Council of Europe Publishing,
Strasbourg.
8. What do we not know to implement the European Landscape Convention? Anna Majchrowska, Univ. of Lodz, Dept. of Physical
Geography, Lodz, Poland.
9. Call on UK Government regarding Commitment to ELC. Open Letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, Scottish First Minister,
Welsh First Minister, Northern Ireland First Minister. 7/10/10. Jo Watkins, President, UK Landscape Institute, London.
10. Quality of Life over the Coming Decades. Dr. John Sweeny, National Economic and Social Council. 2006. published in Callanan,
M. (ed.) (2008), Ireland 2022: Towards One Hundred Years of Self-Government, I.P.A, Dublin
11. Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland - enhancing our natural capital for human well-being. Comhar (Sustainable Development
Council), Dublin, Ireland. 2010.
12. Local landscape and public policy in an era of globalization. Simon Swaffield, Environment Society and Design, Lincoln University,
New Zealand. Published in CELA 2005: ‘A Time for Place’. conference proceedings, Sept21-24 Athens, Georgia, USA.
13. Beyond GDP – Measuring progress, true wealth, and the well-being of nations. conference background paper. Bart Wesselink, Jan
Bakkes, Aaron Bst, Friedrich Hinterberger, Patrick ten Brink. Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, SERI, Institute for
European Environmental Policy. (available at www.beyond-gdp.eu).
14. Heaney claims motorway near Tara desecrates sacred landscape. Frank McDonald, Irish Times. 1 March 2008.
15. The Second Landfall. Irish Landscape Forum 1996. Edited by Terry O'Regan
16. Through the Eye of the Artist. Irish Landscape Forum 1997. Edited by Terry O'Regan
17. Sea Change. Ian Houston. Seascape Architecture. 'Landscape' Summer2011. Journal_The Landscape Institute
18. Land ho! Tim Waterman, Hon. Editor. Seascape Architecture. 'Landscape' Summer 2011. Journal of the U.K Landscape
Institute, London.
19. Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas. May 2009. Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government. Dublin, Ireland.
20. Green infrastructure: connected and multifunctional landscapes. Position statement. 2008. The Landscape Institute, London, England.
21. The Economic Value of Open Space: A Review and Synthesis. 1996. Charles J. Fausold and Robert J. Lilieholm. Policy Research Paper,
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, MA, USA (www. http://www.lincolninst.edu/).
22. Making the Links.Greenspace. March 2005. Greenspace Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland.
23. Demonstrating the Links: action research on greenspaces. Greenspace Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland.
24. Greenspace and Quality of Life: a critical literature review transforming urban spaces. Greenspace Scotland
25. A Green Approach to Community Regeneration. Sept. 2007. Paper to IFPRA World Congress, ‘Parks – A Celebration of Diversity’,
Dublin.
26. Where have all the parks gone? Changes in Dublin’s green space between 1990 & 2006. M. Brennan, D. McInerney, T. Hochstrasser and T.
Hayden. Working Paper Series UII 09/02. UCD Urban Institute, Dublin.

15. 15
27. Simulating urban encroachment upon Natura2000 sites using the MOLAND model : supporting appropriate assessment. M. Brennan, H.
Shahumyan, S. Convery. 2009. Urban Environment Project - Working Papers Series; 09/08. Urban Institute Ireland UCD Dublin,
Ireland.. www.uep.ie/downloads/viewer.php?id=163
28. Blue Sky, Green Space. Understanding the contribution that Parks and Green Spaces can make to improving People's Lives. full report. Green
Link. www.green-space.org.uk/resources/GreenLINK/
B. Resources
1. Council of Europe. European Landscape Convention. www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/Landscape/default_en.asp
2. Landscape Urbanism - http://landscapeurbanism.com/ (dot) com site for and about landscape, architecture, and urbanism; a
resource and ongoing publication for people interested in cities, landscape, and design. Landscape urbanism is an idea that process
matters in design, that collaboration between disciplines is critical, and that complexity should be embraced as part of urbanism
and landscape architecture.
3. European Landscape Partnership [www.urban-landscape.net/content_public/introduction.php]
The creation of a new, long-term, partnership for Europe’s urban landscape is one of the key initiatives of the LE:NOTRE PLUS
Thematic Network Dissemination Project. The network links over 100 hundred European universities and many stakeholder
organisations with interests in landscape architecture teaching and research as the European level. The Partnership is
extending its network to involve European municipal authorities, while at the same time linking them with universities, NGOs
and national, local and European government organisations concerned with the urban landscape. Central to the goals of
European Urban Landscape Partnership are the aims of the European Landscape Convention: “to promote landscape protection,
management and planning and to organise European cooperation on landscape issues”. The bottom-up philosophy has focussed on the
creation and strengthening of the academic community through an emphasis on a combination of sharing information and
personal communication.
4. Greenspace Scotland (GrS) [www.greenspacescotland.org.uk]. an independent charitable company. It works with a wide
range of national and local partners to improve the quality of life of people living and working in urban Scotland through the
planning, development and sustainable management of greenspaces. Activities include: developing and sharing practice, research
and knowledge management, policy and funding advocacy, partnership development and support; as well as bespoke consultancy,
training and support to national, regional and local organisations.
The work of GrS is mandated through the Scottish Government Principles and Priorities (pub. Sept. 2007): The
Government’s Programme for Scotland. This sets out the overall Purpose of Government: "..to focus government and public services on
creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth." Delivering this
Purpose requires integrating working across the five overarching strategic
objectives:
wealthier & fairer: enable businesses and people to increase their wealth and more people to share fairly in that wealth
smarter: expand opportunities for Scots to succeed from nurture through to life long learning, ensuring higher and more
widely shared achievements
healthier: help people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, ensuring better, local
and faster access to health care
safer & stronger: help local communities to flourish, becoming stronger, safer places to live, offering improved
opportunities and a better quality of life
greener: improve Scotland’s natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it

16. 16
In November 2007, the Scottish Government and COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, www.coslar.gov.uk) entered
into a new relationship. An agreed Concordat represented a fundamental shift in the relationship between the Government and local
government, and set out a package of measures, including Single Outcome Agreements for every council, based on an agreed set of
national outcomes (underpinned by agreed national indicators). The fifteen national outcomes are:
1 We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe
2 We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities
for our people
3 We are better educated, more skilled and more successful, renowned for our research and innovation
4 Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens
5 Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed
6 We live longer, healthier lives
7 We have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society
8 We have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk
9 We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
10 We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need
11 We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect
others
12 We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations
13 We take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity
14 We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production 15 Our public services are high quality,
continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people’s needs
4. Natural England (NE), [www.naturalengland.org.uk] - government’s advisor on natural environment, providing advice,
grounded in science, on how best to safeguard England’s natural wealth for the benefit of everyone. Its remit is to ensure sustainable
stewardship of the land and sea so that people and nature can thrive. Natural England works with farmers and land managers;
business and industry; planners and developers; national and local government; interest groups and local communities to help them
improve their local environment. It is our NE's responsibility is to see that England’s rich natural environment can adapt and survive
intact for future generations to enjoy; specific responsibilities include:
Managing England’s green farming schemes, paying nearly £400million/year to maintain two-third's of agricultural
land under agri-environment agreements
Increasing opportunities for everyone to enjoy the wonders of the natural world
Reducing the decline of biodiversity and licensing of protected species across England
Designating National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Managing most National Nature Reserves and notifying Sites of Special Scientific Interest
5. European Federation for Landscape Architecture.[ http://europe.iflaonline.org/ ]
6. International Federation of Landscape Architects [
7. Netherlands
8. Berlin State Senate, Germany
9. Trust for Public Land, USA
10. Project for Public Spaces, New York, USA www.pps.org