Interview with Michael Layde, New Chair of the URBACT Monitoring Committee

What does the URBACT programme mean to you? As a mechanism for exchange and learning across Member States in promoting sustainable urban development URBACT is one of the most important mechanisms for delivering on the objectives of the Leipzig Charter.

In the current resource constrained environment, it has become even more valuable as an information exchange. There is an abundance of best practice in Europe, many Member States face similar challenges but on differing scales. We have each developed particular approaches and policies and we have all learned lessons that are valuable and can be applied not only within our own jurisdictions but in others too.

URBACT is a very powerful method of disseminating information and experience quickly and efficiently.  

What is URBACT's added value for Ireland, your country?

URBACT provides us with the knowledge and comfort that the challenges we face in disadvantaged urban areas are not unique or insurmountable. The one 'live' project we have at the moment is providing a really good example of how to encourage disadvantaged socio-economic groups to participate actively in urban regeneration through the forward planning process. We have a project in Dun Laoighaire Rathdown under the SURE URBACT project. The target area consists of three neighbourhoods which are located next to each other: Loughlinston, Shanganagh and Ballybrack.

These neighbourhoods have the highest levels of unemployment in the area and many residents depend on social welfare payments. Youth unemployment tripled during the period 2008 - 2009 with 1,800 of under 25s being without paid employment in the first quarter of 2010. There is a high level of family breakdown and single parent families, together with high levels of anti-social behaviour and vandalism. With URBACT's input, DLR is working hard to ensure that they deliver practical measures by which the youth population can participate in the formulation of a new plan for the affected areas.

URBACT allows European Cities to work together to find concrete solutions to urban challenges. Which of these urban challenges occupy your attention in particular today?

Indeed there are many challenges. Having been so severely affected by global economic downturn, unemployment, youth unemployment, the long term effects of youth unemployment on urban development, impacts on cities of inward and outward brain drain, and the need to coordinate policy in areas dealing with unemployment and forms of support for disadvantaged households are all high up the agenda in Ireland.

How do you see your role as Chair of the URBACT Monitoring Committee?

It is an honour and a privilege to Chair the URBACT Monitoring Committee and a real pleasure to welcome Committee Members to Dublin. I hope that as Chair I can enable the Committee to continue to set URBACT's strategic direction clearly and effectively so that the programme's work is effective. Of course, we have the added task this year of finalising the URBACT III programme for the period 2014 – 2020. I shall be at the disposal of all Committee Members and of France as Managing Authority and URBACT itself to do my bit in delivering the new programme.

As you know, Dublin will host next URBACT Summer University in August. Any good tips on what to do in this wonderful city?

I would advise people not to have a fixed idea of what Dublin will be like before their visit. There are many Dublins to be experienced and enjoyed so it’s best to keep an open mind and let the city take you on as many meandering journeys as possible. Also, as it’s summer in Ireland, bring a raincoat!

And to conclude, what would your ideal city look like?

The short version: A lot like Dublin with a lot less rain!  
There is no single ideal city of course. If there were, everyone would want to live there and would not remain ideal for too long. So many Cities across the Union have so many diverse attributes that could be put together to form a theoretical ideal city. For example, it would have the sense of history of Rome or Athens, the energy of Berlin or London, the grandeur of Budapest or Vienna, the climate and architecture of Barcelona, the cultural heritage of Florence or Paris.. the list goes on and I hope in may spare time to tick off many more cities across the Union in my new quest to form a picture of my ideal city – like fantasy football!

Read more:

• Our Organisation - URBACT website
• URBACT People - URBACT website
• URBACT 2013 Summer University - Save the Date - URBACT website