Dr. Deirdre Garvey:

The other thing I wanted to come back on was the cost-benefit analysis and population. I share the view and it is something I have spoken about previously in terms of balanced regional development. It has been written about by many economists, including John FitzGerald, who has written about it a number of times. These services cost more to provide in the regions. By using population-based models, we exclude social factors regarding the wider and longer-term impact on the region. I share the concern and think it is important we work in an integrated way to try to highlight it. We do it in various ways in the WDC, through the policy team, input and various submissions. It is important we keep doing that.