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West=On=Track -
News
The West Must Plan
According to its Strengths - Statement by Minister
Ó'Cuív
7th July
2003
Minister Ó Cuív
Requests Western Development Commission To Co-ordinate
Radical New Approach To Western Development
Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has asked the
Western Development Commission (WDC) to co-ordinate a
development strategy with the local and regional authorities
for the seven western counties (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim,
Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare).
This strategy is intended to maximise the benefit to the
west from the National Spatial Strategy, major roads
investment, the strategic rail report and decentralisation.
The WDC have agreed therefore to develop a Strategy for
Towns on Radial Routes in the West.
At the launch of the WDC's Annual Report in Sligo Folk
Park, Riverstown, Co. Sligo today, (11.30am, 07/07/03),
Minister Ó Cuív said,
"There has been an unending debate, which hinders
development, as to which comes first, the provision of
infrastructure or development. This sterile argument is
leading us nowhere and it is absolutely vital that we bring
it to an end. Development and infrastructure should in fact
go together and reinforce each other - each should make the
other happen. The way forward, therefore, is a co-ordinated,
planned approach towards spatial planning in the West that
plays to our strengths and maximises the benefits that will
accrue from major investment in roads and the fact that the
West of Ireland has potentially the most intensive rail
network outside of Dublin."
As is outlined in the enclosed strategy, the goal is to
get all of the local and regional authorities in the seven
western counties to plan a co-ordinated approach, in order
to maximise the development potential of the region.
This in the first instance will centre around the towns
on the radial and cross-radial routes in the West - both
road and rail, including the Western Rail Corridor - and
with access to international airports such as Knock and
Shannon. The WDC will examine strategies to build on the
strengths of such towns, most of which are located in CLAR
areas. They could become the focal points for small and
medium-sized firms. Indeed, along with others throughout the
region, they already have many strong, well-rooted and
successful indigenous Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs).
The idea of creating a network of growing towns serving
the Gateways and Hubs as outlined in the National Spatial
Strategy has a huge attraction for economic and social
reasons.
"The need for an emphasis on smaller towns as part of the
strategic development of the Western Region has been
consistently pointed out in WDC reports. The National
Spatial Strategy also reiterated the Government's commitment
to balanced regional development, including the development
of towns outside gateways and hubs, and rural regeneration.
Therefore, it seems to me, with its statutory remit, and
proactive board and staff led by the very efficient and
effective chairperson Michael Farrell and the CEO Lisa
McAllister, the Western Development Commission is the ideal
choice to spearhead this dynamic new initiative."
Éamon Ó Cuiv TD
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