Roadsfundingneeded toendisolationofNW
THE perhiperality of the North West has deterred investors and hindered economic development according to a business body.
IBEC North West is calling for significant investment in road infrastructure in order to counteract the isolcation of the region.
The group says major investment in infrastructure projects can position the North West as a region of long term sustainable economic growth.
IBEC North West has made the call as it makes a submission on the Government’s National Planning Framework, which calls for an ambitious long- term planning and investment strategy for Ireland to address the growing imbalance between the regions and the greater Dublin economy.
The submission was formulated through extensive consultation with businesses throughout the counties of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.
Ibec North West Regional Director Terry MacNamara said: “Inter- regional connectivity, by means of motorway between major urban centres, is vital in facilitating the co- ordination of development across wider regions. Connecting cities and their regions will help spread the economic and population growth which is currently concentrated on the east coast.
“For the North West, advancement of the A5, investment in the N14 Letterkenny- Lifford, N4 Sli- go- Dublin and the Atlantic corridor routes, are all vital in countering the peripherality of the region, which has long deterred the investors and hindered economic development.
“The new Plan must be underpinned by increased State investment, in context of the Public Capital Programme, in transport, broadband, water services, health and education infrastructure across all regions.
“This would have the knock on effect of increasing productivity, employment opportunities, and improved standards of living by reducing transport costs, connecting regions to cities, and attracting more private sector investment,” he said.
The plan, called Ireland 2040, is now open for public consultation, and Minister Simon Coveney will travel around the country where he will hold townhall- style meetings on it before a final document is put before the Dáil in advance of October’s budget.
Mr Coveney has said the consultation period could throw up scenarios such as the possibility of Sligo becoming a city over the next 25 years and a driver of growth in the northwest.
He stressed this when he was in Sligo at a launch of the plan at The Model.
He warned that three- quarters of the projected population increase of more than one million would be focused on Dublin and the east coast unless action was taken to drive the growth of regional cities. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said more facilities, such as rehabilitative places, hospitals and schools, would be needed over the period to 2040.
“These are massive infrastructural requirements for the next 30 years. And we are not geared for it now,” he said.