Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——that we are not providing the moneys due to the BMW region. It is not correct to say that €3 billion has not been spent in the BMW region that would otherwise be spent. One of the economic programmes was based on whether there would be a take-up from business. That did not happen and obviously that money was not spent.

It is not just a question of money spent up to 2006. Under the Community Support Framework there is a further period in which the money allocated will be spent. I can give the Senator a detailed briefing which makes the point I am making to her. It is perhaps an understandable but inaccurate analysis of the position to suggest that the BMW region is being denied its due allocations for some reason.

The ESRI review of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 indicates that the income disparities between the regions are reducing. The ESRI will confirm that. The 2007 to 2013 national development plan is another major effort to continue the trend of trying to achieve balanced regional development. We have not had balanced regional development in this country, which is unfortunate. When the development began it was in the major conurbations and was Dublin centric in the main because we did not have regional development but we are effecting regional development. The national spatial strategy, which sets out where the country is going in the next 20 years in that respect, is the first overall strategy ever adopted and we ensure that the allocations under the national development plan are aligned with national spatial strategy objectives.

One of the main tasks that must be done if we are to effect balanced regional development is to create critical mass in the regions. My own midlands region is a particular challenge because we do not have a city like Galway, Sligo, Limerick, Cork, Waterford or Letterkenny-Derry. An examination of some of the income disparities indicates that the central midlands region, from Longford to rural Carlow, are the areas of most deprivation in rural Ireland. Thankfully, the west has progressed immeasurably. Galway is the fastest growing city in Ireland. It is a tremendous city. I accept there are challenges. Senator Cox mentioned the health services. I was glad, as Minister for Health and Children, to invest over €70 million to develop that area. It had to be done and is being done.