Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As well as the central Border region there are also the north-west and east Border regions, we will hear a presentation on the latter, which is part of my area, later. Mr. McCreesh mentioned the issue of being fully recognised as a region and as a collective unit. Do the witnesses see merit in the co-ordination and facilitation of efforts between the three groupings working together? They could identify the various sectors that are important to one region but which are totally different from another region. One simple example of this is the education sector. Letterkenny and Derry work on specifics that are required for programmes in that region, whereas Dundalk Institute of Technology and Dublin City University would have different requirements. If we want to get additional moneys from Europe in a post-Brexit situation or otherwise, is there merit in facilitation? The Centre for Cross-Border Studies and others are offering guidance in this area, and Deputy Brendan Smith referred to help from the universities as well. We have to make sure that we maximise the spend and the investment to ensure that all the regions survive.