Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Once again, I raise the issue of the lack of delivery of balanced regional development, specifically in the northern and western region. Once again, I use the statistics compiled by the European Commission and the analysis of those statistics by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, which does sterling work not just in analysing the problem but in proposing solutions.

The assembly has produced two reports this year - the first on regional GDP data and the latest using EUROSTAT statistics relating to 2021 - so we are right up to date. Unfortunately, the figures are stark and deeply disappointing. For the Border region in particular, they show a region in freefall when you look at GDP per capitafigures. The Border region's GDP per capitahas dropped to 52% of the EU 27 average, the lowest since records began. Think about that. Compared to all other EU regions, the Border region stands at 52% of the EU average. Its GDP has fallen off a cliff. Generally I am not given to hyperbole but this is disastrous.

If you look at the entire northern and western region, you can see that its GDP is at 83% of the EU average. It is not even making the average of all EU regions. In 2006, 17 years ago, the Border region was close to the EU average at 98% but it has been steadily declining since and has hit the new low of 52%. This is just not acceptable. In fact, it is a disgrace. It shows that balanced regional development is just a phrase that is trotted out. It is not a policy that is at the heart of Government. It is an extra tacked on when announcements are made. Unless and until balanced regional development has a Minister who is responsible for it, it is a systemic policy objective of this Government that is supported by specific commitments that are revisited and reinforced on a three-monthly basis and there is positive discrimination to address the ever-widening economic gap, we will end up with jaw-dropping figures like this.

The second report refers to the competitiveness of the region. Again, it is based on the European Commission's 2022 regional economic index. Again, we find that the northern and western region is ranked 113th out of the 234 EU regions. This is 89 places behind the eastern and midlands region. If the Taoiseach does not address this yawning economic gap, it will be poor for the entire country because strong regions contribute to strong national economic development.

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