Ms Susan McKay:

I doubt that we are talking about enough numbers to talk about a mass exodus, but certainly an exodus or an increase in pressure on people to leave because they simply cannot survive economically there. That would be a very bad thing for the country as a whole. It should be recognised as a cultural area. Manorhamilton alone deserves the designation of an arts and culture town, and something could be made of that. It is a very beautiful area. Tourists could be encouraged to come and visit. If we look at the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, for example, the Glens Centre is in the Glens which are very close to the Atlantic but there has not been any kind of incentive to bring tourists there. Mr. Sheridan invited me to represent where I work now, but also the wider issues. These kind of conditions prevail for people right along the Border area. The absence of economic investment and the sense that the Border was a slightly dangerous area means that artists have been able to live there because it is not such a desirable area for others who have more choices. This would be true of other parts of the Border region as well, on both sides.