Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress as provided under the programme for Government on the development of a new Atlantic economic corridor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31377/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to delivering balanced national development, particularly in the west of Ireland. One way in which this might be achieved is through the development of an Atlantic Economic Corridor to match other areas of the country in attracting Irish and multinational investment and growing jobs. In order to progress this commitment in the Programme for Government, I recently convened a meeting of key Government Departments and Agencies to consider a proposal for the development of an Atlantic Economic Corridor, which was published earlier this year by the Chambers of Commerce of Limerick, Shannon, Ennis, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, and Sligo and the American Chamber of Commerce.

There was broad support amongst the public bodies at this meeting for the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor. The meeting included representatives from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, as well as several Government Departments.

It was agreed that the group would meet with the relevant Chambers to discuss their proposals in more detail. This meeting will take place next week and will also include other key stakeholders in the region, such as third-level institutions and other business representative bodies.

Further steps necessary to progress the proposal for an Atlantic Economic Corridor will be considered following that meeting.