Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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303. 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. [40799/16]

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 in growing jobs.

In order to progress this commitment, I convened a meeting of key Government Departments and agencies at the end of September 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, Sligo, and the American Chamber of Commerce. There was broad support amongst the public bodies at this meeting for the concept.

I subsequently asked my officials and the public bodies to meet with representatives from the Western Chambers group and other key stakeholders associated with the proposal. A meeting of this wider group was held in Galway in October. At that meeting, the Chambers group explained their proposal in greater detail and outlined some areas where progress is already being made.

I also recently met separately with representatives from the Chambers group and I intend to convene a further meeting of the wider group early in the New Year to map out the next steps in advancing the proposal for an Atlantic Economic Corridor.