Region’s potential is being ignored

FIANNA Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon has hit out at the Government’s failure to recognise or develop the potential of the North West region and has accused Ministers of continuing with two- tier recovery policy.

“There is huge potential for Sligo and Leitrim to be developed as the key growth centre. With redeployment and recruitment of public sector jobs, along with improved links to other urban centres throughout the region, Sligo can become a more effective regional driver, supporting a greater share of population, economic and employment growth,” explained Deputy Scanlon in the Dáil.

“There has been a clear failure to create a balanced jobs strategy for the regions, with the bulk of new employment focused almost exclusively in the capital and commuter belt region. In 2016, 48% of all IDA Ireland jobs were in the Greater Dublin Area and commuter counties – compare that to 2.9% in the North West region. Those figures speak for themselves.” “INVESTMENT in infrastructure must be made a key priority if the North West is to become a viable option for economic opportunities,” he added.