Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

The national development plan was heralded as the most ambitious investment plan ever drawn up in this country. We were told at the time that it involved significant investment in many areas. The lofty notions attached to it did not impact on the western region, however. The mid-term review of the plan clearly illustrates that a significant portion of the funding earmarked for the BMW region has not been spent. That finding was further amplified by the Western Development Commission, which stated in July 2002 that just 59% of the budget allocated in the national development plan for the BMW region had been spent. In effect, 41% of the funding set aside for investment in the BMW region was not spent there. The total under-spend was €644 million. Various Government spokesmen have pointed to the occasional roads project in the BMW region in an attempt to defend the indefensible. Their approach highlights the real tragedy of the saga, which is that there has not been any investment in roads in the western subset of the BMW region. Not only is investment in the BMW region 41% under budget, it has all taken place in its eastern area while the western area has been starved.

The mid-term review points to the need to address the imbalance and take the national spatial strategy into account in future decisions on the NDP. If the drawing down of funding is slow, the finance should be invested in infrastructural projects that would physically unite the entire western region and link it to the rest of the country. I highlight the need to set aside funding to re-open the western rail corridor, build a new N17 and N18 and provide a new hospital in Tuam. There is room to spend the millions that remain unspent to provide water and sewerage schemes throughout the region and a need to grasp the nettle and deliver natural gas to towns in the west.

The mid-term review of the national development plan points to the need to create critical mass to achieve balanced regional development. It identifies the national spatial strategy as the vehicle to achieve this goal. The NDP must underpin and support the national spatial strategy to ensure the survival of the west. The Government has an opportunity to provide solid support in place of rhetoric to achieve balanced regional development by ensuring the BMW region, especially its western area, gets its fair share.

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