Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

104. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made by the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce to date including appointment of the ten Atlantic Economic Corridor officers and the development of hubs in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38596/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor. The Atlantic Economic Corridor has been recognised in the National Planning Framework as a potential key enabler to the regional growth objectives of the NPF. 

The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established in March 2017 to progress the proposal.  I chair the Taskforce, which includes senior representatives from the business sector, key Government Departments, other public bodies, and Third Level institutions. 

The Taskforce has met six times since it was established, most recently in Galway in June 2018, with a seventh meeting scheduled for October 2018. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce are progressing specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy. 

I launched the AEC website www.atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie in Galway in June 2018.The website offers information for people thinking of setting up a business in the region, or for those interested in relocating to the region.

Local Authorities are playing a key role in ensuring a cohesive approach is taken to the development of the AEC. To support this, my Department is providing funding of €30,000 to each of the Local Authorities along the Corridor to co-fund the appointment of a dedicated AEC Officer who will work to develop and promote the AEC initiative and support the work of the Taskforce and its sub-groups. Five of these Local Authorities (Leitrim, Limerick, Clare, Mayo & Roscommon) have already appointed AEC Officers. The remaining five Local Authorities (Sligo, Kerry, Donegal, Galway City and Galway County) have interim officers in place and are in the process of designating permanent AEC Officers.

The Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2018 contains a measure aimed at supporting employment along the AEC by providing funding to support innovation hubs and digital hubs in the functional areas of the 10 Local Authorities along the corridor. As with all Dormant Account measures, a voted allocation must be made available as part of the Estimates process for the measure to proceed. The Dormant Accounts Action Plan envisages that this measure will progress in 2019, subject to the necessary voted expenditure being made available.