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<h2 id="mission">Mission</h2>
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<p>The ICLRD's strategic goals are:</p>
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<ul><li>To promote research activities jointly with academic partners to document successful programmes and best practices that promote inter-regional co-operation, sustainable spatial planning and economic and social development</li><li>To develop capacity building programmes for public officials, civic leaders, non-governmental and other practitioners involved in local, regional and national development.</li><li>To assist local governments and communities in translating policy into 'on-the-ground' action.</li></ul>
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<p>The ICLRD is focused on building the capacity of regional and local authorities, development agencies, border networks and community and voluntary organizations to manage spatial planning on the island of Ireland as a whole. The Centre plays a proactive role in peace and reconciliation on the island by facilitating analysis and capacity building in the areas of co-ordinated spatial planning and social and economic development at local, regional and national levels. Stimulating economic growth and improving the living conditions of the respective populations in order to alleviate and prevent social conflict is at the heart of the Centre's mission. Through its research and professional education programs, the ICLRD works with policy makers and local leaders to improve the environments in which people in Ireland, North and South, live and work - with particular emphasis placed on the needs of marginalized and divided communities. It combines the promotion of regional planning and development as a tool for competitiveness and local planning and development as a way to remedy the continuing problems of social disadvantage.<br>The ICLRD creates something new and unique by bringing together a partnership of planning, housing, health, economics and property experts from NUI Maynooth, the University of Ulster, the Athlone Institute of Technology, the Centre for Cross Border Studies and the Institute for International Urban Development, dedicated to tackling the challenges facing Ireland, North and South. It provides a model for others to follow: a prestigious cross-jurisdictional research and development Centre that draws upon the intellectual capital of third-level institutions and research centres at home and abroad to deal with key social, economic and environmental issues facing Ireland - and countries in Europe and further afield that want to learn from Ireland.</p>
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<h2 id="partners">Partners</h2>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="http://iclrd.org/web2/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/staff-photo-2009-1024x768.jpg" alt="staff photo"/></figure></div>
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<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><a href="#ulster"><img src="http://cdn.ulster.ac.uk/home/img/general/uu-logo-blue.png" alt="UofUlster"/></a></figure></div>
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<p><br><br><br><br>A core value of the ICLRD is that we are cross-border, cross-campus and cross disciplinary.&nbsp; We achieve this through a network of researchers, professional staff and interns from our core&nbsp; partners, affiliated organisations and outside associates including a senior planner seconded from the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland. This allows ICLRD to create flexible teams to undertake applied research projects, conduct focus groups and workshops, participate in steering groups and organise conferences and training activities.<br>Listed below are faculty and professional staff of the respective partner institutions who are currently involved or have participated in an ICLRD activity within the last five years.<br></p>
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<h3><a href="http://www.adbe.ulster.ac.uk/schools/built_environment/">Ulster University – School of the Built Environment</a></h3>
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<p><a href="http://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/ws.mcgreal.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Professor Stanley McGreal</strong></a><br>Professor of Property Research<br>Tel +44(0)28 9036 6566<br>Email: <a href="mailto:ws.mgreal@ulster.ac.uk">ws.mgreal@ulster.ac.uk</a><br><a href="http://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/n.blair.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Dr. Neale Blair</strong></a><br>Senior Lecturer and Course Director in Planning and Property Development<br>Tel. +44(0)28 9036 6221<br>Email: <a href="mailto:n.blair@ulster.ac.uk">n.blair@ulster.ac.uk</a><br><a href="http://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/pf.gray.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Prof. Paddy Gray</strong></a><br>Senior Lecturer<br>Tel. +44 (0)28 71375230<br>Email: <a href="mailto:pf.gray@ulster.ac.uk">Pf.gray@ulster.ac.uk</a><br><a href="https://www.ulster.ac.uk/staff/g.rafferty1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Gavin Rafferty</strong></a><br>Lecturer in Spatial Planning and Development<br>Tel. +44 28 90 366391<br>Email: <a href="mailto:g.rafferty1@ulster.ac.uk">g.rafferty1@ulster.ac.uk</a><br></p>
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<h3><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/">Maynooth University – National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA)</a></h3>
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<p><a href="https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/geography/our-people/mark-boyle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Professor Mark Boyle</strong></a><br>Director of National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA)<br>Tel: +353 1 708 3756<br>Email: <a href="mailto:mark.g.boyle@nuim.ie">mark.g.boyle@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/postdocs/creamer.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Caroline Creamer</strong></a><br>Acting Director, ICLRD<br>Tel. +353 (0) 1 7086971<br>Email: <a href="mailto:caroline.creamer@nuim.ie">Caroline.Creamer@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/admin/kitchin.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Professor Rob Kitchin</strong></a><br>Professor of Geography<br>Tel. + 353 (0) 1 7083372<br>Email: <a href="mailto:rob.kitchin@nuim.ie">Rob.Kitchin@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/admin/JustinGleeson-AIROProjectManager.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Justin Gleeson</strong></a><br>Spatial Projects Coordinator/AIRO Manager<br>Tel. +353 (0) 1 7086157<br>Email: <a href="mailto:justin.gleeson@nuim.ie">Justin.Gleeson@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/postdocs/eoghanmccarthy.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Eoghan McCarthy</strong></a><br>Research Assistant<br>Tel. +353 1 708 6688<br>Email: <a href="mailto:Eoghan.McCarthy@nuim.ie">Eoghan.McCarthy@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/postdocs/aoifedowling.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Aoife Dowling</strong></a><br>Research Assistant<br>Tel. +353 1 708 6688<br>Email: <a href="mailto:aoife.dowling@nuim.ie">Aoife.Dowling@nuim.ie</a><br><a href="https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/ainhoa-gonzalez-de-campo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Dr. Ainhoa Gonzalez</strong></a> (on maternity leave)<br>Research Fellow<br>Tel: +353 1 708 6688<br>Email: <a href="mailto:ainhoa.gonzalez@nuim.ie">Ainhoa.Gonzalez@nuim.ie<br></a><br></p>
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<h2 id="executiveboard">Executive Board</h2>
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<p>ICLRD is run by an Executive Board comprised of the directors of its three <a href="http://iclrd.org/about/partners/">partner organizations</a> and an external Chair.<br><strong>Caitriona Mullan</strong><br>ICLRD Chair<br>Email: <a href="mailto:caitriona73@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caitriona73@gmail.com</a><br><strong>Dr. Patricia O'Hara</strong><br>ICLRD Vice-Chair<br>Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:caitriona73@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poharaca@gmail.com</a><br><strong><a href="https://www.nuim.ie/people/mark-boyle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Mark Boyle</a></strong><br>Director of NIRSA<br>Tel. + 353 (0) 1 708 3756<br>Email: <a href="mailto:mark.g.boyle@nuim.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mark.g.boyle@nuim.ie</a><br><strong>Dr. Neale Blair<br></strong>Executive Director representing Ulster University<br><strong>Mr. John Driscoll<br></strong>Executive Director representing Institute for International Urban Development, Cambridge, Mass.<br><strong>Mr. Jack Keyes<br></strong>Non-Executive Director – Independent<br><strong>Mr. Danny McSorley<br></strong>Non-Executive Director – Independent</p>
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<h2 id="staff">Staff</h2>
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<p>ICLRD draws on its <a href="http://iclrd.org/about/partners/">partners </a>to manage and deliver its programmes.<br>ICLRD is administered by:<br><strong><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/postdocs/creamer.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caroline Creamer</a><br></strong>Acting Director ICLRD<br>Research Fellow – NIRSA<br>E-mail:<a href="mailto: caroline.creamer@nuim.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;caroline.creamer@nuim.ie</a></p>
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<h2 id="advisoryboard">Advisory Board</h2>
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<p><strong>Mr. </strong><strong>David Walsh</strong><br>Assistant Secretary<br>Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government</p>
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<p><strong>Jenny Pyper&nbsp;</strong><br>Chief Executive<br>Utility Regulator, Northern Ireland<br><br><strong>Padraig Maguire&nbsp;</strong><br>Senior Executive Planner<br>Meath County Council<br><br><strong>Peter Roberts OBE</strong><br>Vice-Chair, Northern Ireland Housing Executive<br>Visiting Professor, University of Ulster<br><br><strong>Dr. Eoin Magennis<br></strong>Senior Economist<br>Ulster University Economic Policy Centre<br><br><strong>Mr. Tom Reid<br></strong>Director of Transport Policy, Strategy and Legislation Division<br>Department of Infrastructure<br><br><strong>Mr. Adrian McCreesh<br></strong>Director of Business and Communities<br>Mid-Ulster Council<br><br><strong>Two Vacant Seats</strong></p>
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<h2 id="affiliates">Affiliates</h2>
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<p>The ICLRD has developed a number of links with other academic and research institutes. Through these associations, additional expertise is brought to the organisation; which, in turn, enables ICLRD to engage in a wide-range of initiatives on the ground.<br><a href="http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/people/research_associates/mccafferty.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Prof. Des McCafferty</strong></a><br>Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Geography<strong>,</strong> Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick &amp; NIRSA AssociateTel. + 353 (0)61 204317<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:Des.McCafferty@mic.ul.ie">Des.McCafferty@mic.ul.ie</a><br><a href="http://www.mic.ul.ie/academicdepts/geography/Pages/staffmembers.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe</strong></a><br>Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick &amp; NIRSA Associate<br>Tel. + 353 61 204344<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:Brendan.OKeeffe@mic.ul.ie">Brendan.OKeeffe@mic.ul.ie</a><br><strong><a href="http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=ovr&amp;facId=237760" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Nicholas Retsinas</a><br></strong>Senior Lecturer of Business Administrations,&nbsp; Harvard Business Schools<br>Tel. +1 (617) 496-7473<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:nicolas_retsinas@harvard.edu">nicolas_retsinas@harvard.edu</a><br><a href="http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/people/eric_belsky.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Erick Belsky</strong></a><br>Director, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies<br>Tel. +1 617-496-4991<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:Eric_Belsky@hks.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric_Belsky@hks.harvard.edu</a><br><strong><a href="http://www.ucd.ie/agfood/staff/agri-businessruraldevelopment/academic/drkarenkeaveney/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karen Keaveney</a></strong><br>Lecturer in Rural Development, University College Dublin<br>Tel. +353 1 716 7858<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:karen.keaveney@ucd.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">karen.keaveney@ucd.ie</a></p>
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<h2>Supporters</h2>
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<p>The ICLRD is currently supported by the EU’s <a href="http://www.seupb.eu/programmes2007-2013/interregivaprogramme/interregoverview.aspx"><strong>Interreg IVA Programme</strong></a> through the Special EU Programmes Body and the Irish Government through the <strong><a href="http://www.hea.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higher Education Authority</a></strong>. Both governments on the island of Ireland have been – and remain – very supportive of ICLRD; with the <a href="http://www.environ.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government</strong></a> (DoEHLG) in Dublin supporting research in evidenced-informed planning and the <a href="http://www.drdni.gov.uk/"><strong>Department of Regional Planning</strong></a> (DRD) in Belfast providing support through the secondment of a senior planner and guidance on various ICLRD research activities. Both Departments sit on the ICLRD Advisory Board (see below for further details). We have also received funding from the <a href="http://www.internationalfundforireland.com/"><strong>International Fund for Ireland</strong></a> as well as commissioned research from <a href="http://www.intertradeireland.com/"><strong>Inter</strong></a><a href="http://www.intertradeireland.com/"><strong><em>Trade</em></strong></a><a href="http://www.intertradeireland.com/"><strong>Ireland</strong></a>, the <a href="http://www.sibni.org/"><strong>Strategic Investment Board</strong></a> (SIB) and the <a href="http://www.icban.com/"><strong>Irish Central Border Area Network</strong></a> (ICBAN). Inter<em>Trade</em>Ireland also provided ICLRD with a start-up grant and collaborates on different research activities.</p>
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<a href="http://www.intertradeireland.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
</td><td><a href="http://www.seupb.eu/programmes2007-2013/interregivaprogramme/interregoverview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.environ.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td><td><a href="http://www.sibni.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.hea.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td><td><a href="http://www.icban.com/Home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.drdni.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.internationalfundforireland.com/"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td><td><a href="http://www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<h2>Networks</h2>
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<p>ICLRD has continued to develop its institutional working arrangements, to network its various researchers, to build linkages and networks with the public and private sector across the island of Ireland, and to facilitate the development of new networks such as the North/South Forum for Sustainable Communities.<br><br><strong><a href="http://www.espon.eu">European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON)</a></strong><br>“ESPON is an INTERREG funded multinational planning and related information research project. It has a European and international focus and seeks to inform a better understanding of spatial and territorial cohesion policies in the EU. The National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) was the national contact point for the Republic of Ireland for the programming period 2000-2006 – and will remain so for the new programming period 2007-2013 which has just been launched”.<br><strong><a href="http://www.airo.ie">The All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO)</a></strong><br>AIRO is a research unit and interactive spatial data portal based at one of ICLRD’s founding partners, the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM).&nbsp;The Observatory works with different partners to undertake applied mapping research and develop all-island, spatial datasets and specialist tools to aid their analyses. AIRO also acts as integral resource for ICLRD and the Irish Social Science Platform (ISSP), and recently published <em>The Atlas of the Island of Ireland</em>.<br>AIRO aims to act as a single point of access to a wide variety of spatial data and information about the various regions Ireland.&nbsp; Maps and interactive tools will be made available to planners, policy makers, researchers and those interested in gaining an understanding of the dynamics that are shaping the Island of Ireland today.&nbsp;The Observatory works under the guidance of the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) and the National Centre for Geo-Computation (NCG), AIRO has been funded by the Higher Education Authority under Cycle 4 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutes (PRTLI4).<br><strong><a href="www.espaces-transfrontaliers.org">Mission Opérationelle Transfrontalière (MOT)</a></strong><br>MOT is a Paris-based organization supported by the French Government and local authorities that facilitates cross-border projects at local level, by favouring territorial integration on either side of the borders between France and its many EU neighbours. MOT has a new initiative, EUROMOT, which is bringing together other cross-border groups beyond the French borders. ICLRD and MOT have been cooperating over the last two years.<br><strong>Strategic Planning Action Network (SPAN)</strong><br>The ICLRD, through its partner the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis was involved in the Strategic Planning Action Network (SPAN) Project funded under the EU Interreg IIIB programme. The SPAN activities supported transnational co-operation in the field of spatial development based on the policy options of the <em>European Spatial Development Perspective </em>(ESDP), the <em>Spatial Vision for North West Europe</em>, and the <em>Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent</em> – each of which gives prominence to securing indigenous development and balanced growth within the context of polycentricity and a new urban-rural partnership.<br>Further information on the SPAN initiative is available from the National Institute for Spatial and Regional Analysis (NIRSA) at nirsa@nuim.ie<br><a href="http://www.ola-europe.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>The Observatory on Local Authority (OLA)</strong></a><br>The OLA-network has the mission to study changes in local government systems across the European Union. The OLA-studies have a comparative dimension since these systems are examined amongst and within each other in order to display the concepts of local autonomy and subsidiarity that characterise governance in Europe.</p>
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<h2>Contact Us</h2>
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<table class="wp-block-table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Administrative<br>Centre:</strong></td><td><strong>Contacts:</strong></td></tr><tr><td>International Centre for Local and Regional Development<br>c/o Centre for Cross Border Studies<br>38 Abbey Street<br>Armagh BT61 7EB<br>Northern Ireland<br>Tel: +44 (0)28 3751 1550<br>Fax: +44 (0)28 3751 1721<br>Email: <a href="mailto:info@iclrd.org">info@iclrd.org</a><br>Website: <a href="http://www.iclrd.org/">www.iclrd.org</a></td><td><strong>John Driscoll</strong><br>Project Director<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:driscoll@i2ud.org">driscoll@i2ud.org</a><br><strong>Mairéad Hughes</strong><br>Project Administrator<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:m.hughes@qub.ac.uk">m.hughes@qub.ac.uk</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
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