Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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99. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the operations of the Western Development Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15233/19]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Western Development Commission has achieved much since was it established in 1999.  It now has an important role to play in supporting the Government's objectives for more effective regional development through initiatives such as the National Planning Framework, the new Regional Enterprise Plans, the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, and the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) project.

The Commission will shortly launch a new 5-year Strategic Plan which will set out its main pillars of work over the coming years.

The Commission has been allocated just over €2 million from my Department's Vote for 2019.  This represents an increase of €500,000 on their 2018 allocation. The additional funding which I secured for 2019 will allow the Commission to delivery its new Strategy and, in particular, to support the work of the AEC initiative and maximise the use of the Western Investment Fund.

The AEC project is a collaborative initiative, involving public and private stakeholders working together to maximise the strengths and assets of the cities and towns along our Western seaboard, from Donegal to Kerry, to attract investment, support jobs and improve the quality of life of those who live and work in the region.  The project is overseen by the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, which I chair.

As the AEC initiative develops and grows, the importance of strengthening the collaboration between stakeholders and in communicating the AEC's potential to investors is paramount.  In this context, the Western Development Commission has agreed to take on a co-ordinating role to support the work of the AEC Taskforce and its subgroups.

Through the Western Investment Fund, the Commission implements initiatives to support the development of micro-enterprises SMEs and emerging sectors in the western region, including a €2 million fund to encourage the film, television, animation and games industry in the West of the country.