ELECTIVES

• You will have studied one of two choices for the electives:

➤ Patterns and Processes in Economic Activities OR

➤ Patterns and Processes in the Human Environment

• You will have the choice of three questions and you must answer one

• The question will be worth 80 marks and is divided into three parts:

➤ Part A – 20 marks

➤ Part B – 30 marks

➤ Part C – 30 marks

• Timing for this question:

➤ Part A – 7 minutes

➤ Part B – 14 minutes

➤ Part C – 14 minutes

EXAM TIP

Make sure you bring a calculator into the exam as you may have to calculate various figures when completing Part A of a question.

PATTERNS AND PROCESSES IN THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT Topic 1 Migration

Typical question Describe and explain changes in patterns of migration to and from Ireland over time. Typical marking scheme

• Changing pattern to Ireland identified: 2 marks

• Changing pattern from Ireland identified: 2 marks

• Description/explanation: 13 x SRPs

• All further changes in patterns require explanation.

• If discussion of only migration to Ireland or only of

migration from Ireland: max 7 x SRPs.

• If description of changes in patterns of migration with

no explanation: max 7 x SRPs.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In this essay I will describe and explain how patterns of migration to and from Ireland have changed over time. I will focus on emigration in the 1950s and immigration from 1990-2008 as two different patterns representing migration to and from Ireland.

During the 1950s, over 400,000 people emigrated from Ireland. The country was in a deep economic recession and saw the highest emigration rates since the Great Famine. The majority of people who left Ireland were young adults who had worked as agricultural labourers or in construction. The Western region was hit the hardest as many people lacked the skills and education to find employment in different sectors when they lost their jobs. Unemployment was a major push factor, encouraging people to leave Ireland during the 1950s. Those who left found employment in the UK and US which were experiencing an economic boom. Irish emigrants were able to take advantage of the demand for labour in sectors such as construction. This was a major pull factor that attracted these young workers to places such as the UK and US. During this time the population of Ireland decreased by 5%, reaching a low of 2.82 million people. This level of emigration created issues in the regions most affected. Rapid depopulation resulted in a high dependency ratio with relatively large numbers of elderly people and children.

For the following decades emigration declined and rose again due to various eras of prosperity and recession. From 1990 – 2008 there was a major change in migration patterns with Ireland experiencing a high rate of inward migration. Ireland was going through the Celtic Tiger at this time, a period of rapid economic growth. This attracted both skilled and unskilled immigrants from other EU countries as well as asylum seekers. The rapid economic growth resulted in a labour shortage which immigrants from countries such as Poland were able to fill. The expansion of the EU in 2004 paved the way for this high rate of immigration.

Between 2006 and 2007, 100,000 immigrants came to Ireland, filling roles in areas such as construction, retail and the services industry. These immigrants were openly accepted by Ireland as it was one of only three countries that granted immediate access for migrants from new member states who joined during the 2004 enlargement of the EU. There was also a huge increase in applications for asylum in Ireland. This reached a height of 11,634 in 2002. In contrast, the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland in 1994 was 362. The combined influx of immigrants and asylum seekers led to the rapid increase of the population of Ireland. It changed Ireland’s pattern of migration from a story based on emigration to a pattern of immigration. However, after 2008 the pattern changed again as many people have left Ireland following the downturn in the economy from 2008-2013.

PATTERNS AND PROCESSES IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Topic 1 Impact of EU policies Typical question

➤ Examine the impact of EU policy on the development of primary economic activity in Ireland.

Typical marking scheme

• Impact on primary activity identified: 2 marks

• Examination: 14 SRPs

• Credit 2nd impact identified for 1 x SRP from examination.

• Credit 1 named policy for 1 x SRP from examination.

• All further impacts and policies require examination.

• Focus of question is on the impact of EU policy on primary economic activity in Ireland, discussion without a reference to this: max 2 x SRPs.

• Discussion without reference to European Union policy: max 2 x SRPs.

• Accept both positive and negative viewpoints within the examination.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In this answer I will examine the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) on the development of primary economic activity in Ireland.

The CAP is the result of EU policy relating to the support and management of the agricultural sector in the EU. The CAP provides direct subsidy payments to farmers for crops and cultivated land along with minimum prices for produce. The CAP has had a hugely positive impact on agriculture in Ireland since it was set up in 1962. The grants and funding received have helped to improve the economy by supporting jobs, reducing rural poverty by raising farm incomes and improving food standards.

In 2017, €1.5bn in CAP grants were given to farms around Ireland. Prior to the CAP reform in 1992, farmers received direct payments based on how much food they produced. However, this led to huge surpluses of produce. After the reform, farmers now receive a single direct payment regardless of how much they produce. These payments have allowed farmers to update machinery and farming methods, leading to the modernisation of the agricultural sector in Ireland and allowing it to become more competitive. Farmers were also able to diversify which was hugely important in rural areas. Farmers in peripheral areas, such as Co Leitrim, began to plant forests on marginal land, receiving grants from the EU for this. Farmers were encouraged to diversify in a number of ways such as agri-tourism, B&Bs on farms and open farms for school tours.

The CFP is the result of EU policy on managing fish stocks and aquaculture. It has had a negative impact on the fishing sector in Ireland. It was set up in 1983 to provide a sustainable approach to fishing in EU waters. From 1983 to 2013 the CFP provided €335m in funding which was used to develop and improve port facilities in Ireland. However, under the CFP the size of Ireland’s fishing fleet was reduced in order to preserve fish stocks. The CFP also controls the amount of fish that Irish fisherman can catch in order to allow fish stocks to replenish. The EU decides on the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for each species with each fishing vessel then being allocated part of this TAC. This system of quotas has also limited the time fishermen can operate for. This time is currently set at 55 days a year. This has a negative influence on the fishing sector in Ireland as the potential revenue that could be made from fishing is not being met. There is room to increase Ireland’s quota of fish caught without endangering preservation levels of fish stocks. The quotas mean that only large factory ships that can stay at sea for months are profitable. This has made it difficult for many fishermen who often have two jobs and only fish part time. Small ports are also no longer viable. This has put pressure on areas such as Dingle which would have relied on the revenue created by the fishing industry.