The rural areas will play to the various strengths. The spatial strategy emphasises that to achieve balanced regional development critical mass at the gateway and hub level must be complemented by other towns and villages growing to their potential. Towns and villages will better support their local, rural and urban, populations by becoming the focus of investment, economic activity and housing development. Dublin is an example of how this happens. Developments in Dublin have brought benefits to all of the surrounding areas, including the counties around it. Counties Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth have all benefited. Areas in gateway regions will benefit in similar fashion. Gateway benefits to surrounding areas will mirror those Dublin has brought to its surrounding areas.