Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First of all, as the Deputy will be aware, the national planning framework targets there being additional population of 160,000 to 180,000 in the north west which would give a population of approximately 1 million people by 2040. In the here and now, Sligo is the engine room in many respects for the north west. In my view, the entire higher education edifice in the region - the institutes of technology, along with St. Angela's College - is the key to economic regeneration there.

Obviously, the move towards a technological university between Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway is important in increasing the level of research and development over time. Critical mass is needed for research and development investments. In Sligo, there are already strong research and development components; for example, in the robotics centre which is probably unique across the country in terms of its quality. That is what helps to bring in foreign direct investment. We have set up a new Department of third level education, research and science specifically for that purpose. I was anxious that the Department would be established from a policy perspective because I think the future of the country depends on significant investment in education at all levels, particularly in third level and in fourth level research. The move from institute of technology status to technological university status will enable over time a greater amount of research to take place.

The town centre-based approach in the programme for Government is another avenue through which we want to bring back development to towns that have suffered significantly in recent times through a range of factors, including demographics, the movement of industries and the closure of certain types of industry. There is a need for a renaissance and revitalisation of many town centres across the country, particularly in the north west. The programme for Government identifies incentives to try to encourage people to develop buildings and residential homes within town centres.

Over €1 billion will be spent on rural regeneration over the next ten years. The north west has been effective in tapping into quite a number of funding streams and has had a number of projects sanctioned arising out of such funds. Fundamentally, we must build on our strengths in rural areas, such as the agrifood industry, biodiversity and afforestation issues such as the growing of native trees. There will be investment in all of that, and retrofitting as well. There will be a need to develop alternative industries that are amenable to grow in rural areas.

Regionally, we need to rebalance the country. I acknowledge there is an imbalance at present. The programme for Government is clear that it wants to redress the current imbalance.

See this speech in context