Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Did the old national spatial strategy work? Did it deliver what was planned? Galway is a gateway city and we have seen the importance of major cities as economic drivers for regions. The Galway hinterland includes Connemara and people who have traditionally worked in Galway city but live in a rural area. The importance of the gateway as an economic driver needs to be further developed. Foreign direct investors see Galway city as important with regard to a critical mass of population for employment of trained individuals.

The past week has seen contracts signed in respect of the M17-M18 motorway, which will be a great help to the regions and to the west, as well as developments regarding the Government's policy on broadband in that area. While these measures all are important, the importance of the gateways as economic drivers for the regions must be supported fully.

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