Dublin is our capital city and the main engine of economic growth. The greater Dublin area will continue to play a key role for the country at national and international levels. In international terms, it is our major player and a key driver of our economy. However, balanced regional development will only be achieved if we get more economic activity in the regions. To complement Dublin and to put in place substantial, enhanced prospects of attracting significant investment to the regions, the existing gateways designated in the national development plan – Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford – must be strengthened. Those cities must become stronger and more competitive and they need to achieve this in their own right. However, with improved physical connections between them, which would reduce travel time, they could co-operate with each other in offering other international scale locations in Ireland in addition to Dublin.