Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I know that. I raised with Mr. Moloney briefly before what is referred to as a community wealth building model. It is a model that is used in different parts of the world. Our two nearest neighbours use it - Scotland and England. North Ayrshire Council has developed a model, as has Preston City Council in the north of England. It is basically a model that is trying to ensure that some of the public spend is used in regions that are underdeveloped. We get this in every country, such as the east coast and west coast of Ireland, and it would be accepted that in the border region economic activity is not at the same level as what it is in other regions. Is the Department aware of the model or is it something the Department ever looks at in terms of public expenditure? How that could be utilised to feed into strengthening regional development, the local economy and local economic development. Is that ever looked at?