Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late. I welcome the witnesses. What would they like to see with regard to the forthcoming spatial strategy? The fear is that one wants to appease everyone, so what are their views on creating specific industrial and service clusters, particularly in the west? For example, areas like Castlebar and Letterkenny could be focused on where there will be a greater impact from the spillover of benefits for the region. The concern would be whether balanced regional development means that everyone has to gain from it. How do we maximise our resources with regard to this regional spread, to ensure it benefits the regions?

Galway is bidding to be the Capital of Culture 2020. Do the witnesses have an input into that process? Perhaps they can outline the potential of that for Galway and the western region generally.