West=On=Track - News

Council for West wants fair share of infrastructure investment

Tuam Herald - Thursday 7th October 2004

THE Council for the West (CFTW) has launched a "Fair Share" campaign, which aims to ensure that the Government will provide a fair share of investment in the West's infrastructure when it is approving expenditure additional to that committed to under the National Development Plan (NDP) in the coming months.

It is expected that the Minister for Transport will seek cabinet approval for further funding estimated to total euro3.2bn for infrastructure in the Dublin area such as euro2.4bn for the Metro, euro600m to widen the M50 Motorway and euro200m plus for a possible widening of the Naas dual carriageway. Whilst the CFTW welcomes this expenditure increase, it is seeking the support of Government to ensure that infrastructural projects in the BMW region are given equal status by allocating matching pro rata funds of euro1.61bn.

Stop disadvantage

The CFTW states that, if sanctioned, this added expenditure would help ensure that the West would not continue to be at a disadvantage when competing in the global and national economic marketplace, and it would give credence to the Government's balanced regional development policy.

As examples, the Council says that an extra euro30m could service the main Connacht area with essential energy by strategically linking the Corrib Gas pipelines through Knock Airport Business Park, Ballaghaderreen, Carrick-on-Shannon, Boyle and Sligo; and euro350m approx could re-open the Western Rail Corridor from Sligo to Limerick. Another key infrastructure item that requires expansion is Knock Airport and an investment of euro40m would create an excellent air facility to service the West and Midlands.