Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome what the Minister is saying and the extra money; however, what is occurring is a damning indictment of Government policy, which is committed to balanced regional development. This has not come out of the blue. In 2020, a report by the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development categorised the region as a lagging region. In the Northern and Western Regional Assembly's pre-budget submission for the most recent budget, it set out low levels of research-and-development expenditure and problems with an estimated gap in disposable income between that of the north-west region and the national average. It was really significant, being three times higher than the corresponding gap in 2010. This is all set out. The Minister has seen the submission. The assembly is clearly pointing out that, instead of going forward, the north-west region has gone backwards.

It is important for the reports of the Commission and the Minister to be published. We will then be able to see whether the money is meeting what the Northern and Western Regional Assembly is seeking so that we can have balanced regional development.

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