Regional Development Monitor
About this good practice
The Regional Development Monitor (RDM) Hub is a collaborative project between the three Regional Assemblies in Ireland, the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University and spatial infrastructure partners the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) via the GeoHive platform. It is a new national mapping and data visualisation tool with a range of analytics dashboards, designed to enhance our understanding of key societal trends in Ireland.
The aim of the RDM Hub is to collate and visualise a range of relevant socio-economic and environmental indicators to present the performance of each of the three regions in terms of achieving the objectives outlined in their respective Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES). The RDM provides a series of new national mapping and visualisation infrastructures to assist Government Departments, Regional Assemblies, Local Authorities, Planners, Policy Makers, Researchers and members of the public in gaining a greater insight into social, economic and environmental trends to aid better decision making.
The RDM focuses on indicators related to the Regional Strategic Outcomes (RSOs) of the RSESs along with their appropriate socio-economic and environmental variables and is categorised into four key principles: Our People and Places, Our Green & Sustainable Future, Our Region's Economy, and an All-Island Perspective.
Resources needed
The RDM is funded by the Regional Assemblies. The development of the hub took 10 months with a technical team of three. During this period multiple workshops were held regarding the design of the tool and the indicators to be included. The technical team updates the RDM on an ongoing basis.
Evidence of success
The RDM is a live resource which is updated as new data becomes available. It continues to be supported by key stakeholders as a valuable resource, and the multi-stakeholder co-creative process is ongoing as new content is added. The website shows very strong user metrics. The RDM has been recognised by the Irish Planning Institute, winning an award for excellence in Research and Innovation in 2023.
Potential for learning or transfer
The RDM is the largest open data hub in the state. The effectiveness of this tool relies on the availability of reliable and up-to-date data, which is a factor that may hamper transferability to other countries and regions where digitisation of relevant data is progressing at a slower rate. Where appropriate data is available, the RDM provides an example of the transformative impact of digitalisation, making critical information accessible for policy-makers and the public. It represents a significant innovation in planning in Ireland, and key to this is the strategic partnership of stakeholders involved in its co-creation. Designed to provide an evidence base for policy development, and to facilitate the monitoring of the performance of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, the RDM is a valuable tool for ensuring balanced regional development and provides a model that is replicable in other regions.