Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to hear Deputies outline the different perspectives from various counties. As the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Joe McHugh, argued, we must address overdevelopment on the east coast. In doing so, we must not overlook the issues raised by Deputy Tóibín. The national planning framework must get to grips with the commitments in the programme for Government in respect of the Atlantic economic corridor. This corridor, which is a counterbalance to overdevelopment in Dublin, links Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Derry and aims to create a critical mass that will enable the region to attract industries and jobs and keep people in their homes and parishes. The Atlantic economic corridor concept requires significant investment if this goal, which is supported by the chambers of commerce in all of the counties in the region, is to be achieved. Our approach to development must be regional rather than parochial and focused on developing the entire regain, rather than sections of it.

I acknowledge that major strides have been made in developing the west. These include the opening of the stretch of the M17-M18 motorway between Gort to Tuam. However, no one should think this is the end of the story. We must continue this type of infrastructure-led development. An example of this type of development that I often cite is Knock Airport. When the late Monsignor Horan spoke about building an airport at Knock, he was ridiculed. The airport is now a vital part of the west's infrastructure, providing access to the region for more than 1 million airline passengers every year. However, further development is required in the region, including improvements in the road network northwards into counties Donegal and Derry. The western rail corridor must also be extended to provide a proper rail corridor in the west serving the ports of Foynes, Cork and Galway. Foynes Port is being developed with an investment of €40 million but this will not solve anything in isolation. We need to create connectivity.

In addition to building metro north, we should extend the rail network into Shannon and Knock airports in order that passengers arriving at these airports have access to a rail service that will transport them to their final destination.

The west has a significant broadband deficit which the Government is addressing in a slow and difficult process. Without broadband, the west will not make progress.

The west offers significant opportunities to develop sources of alternative energy. The marine resource must be harnessed along the length of the Atlantic coast. This could be achieved with a proper plan and blueprint. The Atlantic economic corridor is the blueprint for solving many of the problems Deputies raised when they likened motorways to car parks and spoke of congestion and hollowed out towns and counties surrounding the capital. We need to create a counterbalance to Dublin and I hope the Atlantic economic corridor will become the main focus in the national planning framework.

Wastewater is another area of deficiency. Many of the housing estates built in east Galway in the past 20 years have private wastewater treatment schemes, which no one is prepared to take in charge or assess. Despite this, we are unable to provide municipal treatment plants to replace them. We need to take a different approach to this issue by examining the idea of establishing co-operatives in villages that would link housing estates to a single wastewater treatment plant. We need to take an innovative, smart approach rather than continuing as we have always done.

I look forward to the implementation of the national planning framework. We must ensure it is focused on regional development, rather than allowing it to be concentrated on cities. If we do this properly, we will set a template which we can be proud of in 20 or 30 years.

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