The management of infrastructure is highly idiosyncratic. There’s no single playbook to copy. However, the most efficient builders share certain characteristics. They adhere to a few principles.
It’s hard to adapt Irish towns and cities. Progress Ireland’s solution is to empower communities to opt into greater levels of density.
Most homes in European cities have been added through gradual infill. Current policy makes infill difficult, leaving cities frozen in the 20th century. Street Plan Development Zones could let towns and cities adapt to our changing needs.
A small change to planning rules could unlock a large number of new homes in the places they’re most needed, and help homeowners cover their bills.
Homeowners are currently entitled to build a small office, gym, or garage on their property without applying for planning permission. They are not entitled to build a small home. Extending exempted development rules to small homes could unlock up to 350,000 homes, according to Progress Ireland’s modelling.
Ireland’s great challenge is to build infrastructure. It should do what has worked before, in this country and across Europe. It should give TII the autonomy it needs to deliver.
Elite research agencies have implemented metascience to maximise innovation ROI. Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland’s (TERI’s) incorporation presents an opportunity to do the same.
Metascience can create a new trajectory for Irish research excellence