Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is good that progress is being made. It needs to happen as quickly as possible. Every time I raise the need for rural proofing, the prime example I give of its necessity is the west and north-west region. Further data from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, shows that the gap in disposable income between the region and the State average is widening and is now €3,973. Ireland has worsened to the point where we now have a medium-sized regional inequality in line with Greece, Portugal and Croatia. This is a serious issue. The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has stated that we need a sizable regional stimulus package for the region's economy. This needs to come hand in hand with a rural proofing mechanism.

We need to turn the tide for the west and north west. The region is regressing rapidly. The mechanism will play a part in addressing the issue, but we also need to examine the region itself.

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