Written Answers. - Special Advisory Working Group.
Edward Nealon
Question:
110
Mr. Nealon
asked the
Minister for Finance
if he will outline the priority needs which were identified for the north-west area by the sub-region's special advisory working group established in connection with the EC Structural Funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In 1988 the Government established sub-regional working groups (comprising representatives of local authority members and the social partners) to advise, in so far as their sub-regions were concerned, on the preparation of the National Development Plan 1989-93, which formed the basis of Ireland's application for Structural Fund assistance over the period.
Following consultation with the advisory group, the sub-regional working group in the north-west prepared a submission which examined the strengths and weaknesses of the north-west and identified specific objectives for a development strategy for the north-west, in the context of Structural Funds assistance.
A summary of the report, which was incorporated in the National Development Plan, follows for the Deputy's information.
Extract from the National Development Plan 1989-1993:
SUB-REGION 6: NORTH-WEST
Socio-economic analysis
Overview
1.1 The North-West sub-region comprises counties Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal. It has a population of 319,089 (1986 Census) with an average density of 28 per sq km as against 51 for the State. It covers an area of 11,333 sq km. It is peripheral not only within the EC but also within Ireland itself. It shares a land frontier of some 300 kilometres with Northern Ireland.
1.2 The population is widely dispersed with a high degree of rurality; only four towns have populations above 5,000. There is a high level of migration which, if it continues, will mean that the rural way of life will disappear from many areas.
1.3 The difficult topography of mountains, hills, rivers and lakes poses major problems for communications and agriculture. It adds significantly to the cost of providing an efficient road network and other infrastructure.
1.4. An important cultural feature of the area is the large Irish-speaking area (Gaeltacht) in North and West Donegal. It has a population of 26,000.
Infrastructure
2.1 There are serious deficiencies in theroad network. There are 717 km of national roads and much of this is substandard. There are 15,918 km of regional and county roads and most of them have deteriorated in recent years due to lack of funds for maintenance. Rail services to the sub-region are minimal with only the Dublin-Sligo line which serves only a small part of the sub-region.
2.2 The most importantport in the sub-region, Sligo, has suffered siltation over recent years with a consequent decline due to limitations on ship size and cargo tonnage.
2.3 There are tworegional airports in the area, one at Sligo and the other at Carrickfinn in West Donegal. Both commenced scheduled flights in 1988, Sligo to Dublin and Carrickfinn to Glasgow. Both airports are being further developed.
2.4 There are many inadequacies in the area ofwater supplies and sewage disposal which inhibit the development of industry and tourism. Adequate waste disposal services also need to be developed.
2.5 In general thetelephone service is reasonably adequate; however, there is only a limited availability of advanced telecommunications services. The relatively low population density in the North-West results in high average costs for the provision of telephone connections in rural areas.
Structure of the economy
3.1 A high proportion of the population is engaged inagriculture. However, given that 72 per cent of the land is marginal and that many of the holdings are small — of a total of 44,388 holdings over 4 hectares 32,500 are less than 20 ha — there is a high level of underemployment and a low level of farm incomes. Average farm income is just half the national figure.
3.2 Of the 19,145 persons engaged inmanufacturing industry in 1987 65 per cent were working in the engineering, clothing and food sectors. The principal sectors attracting multi-national investment have been healthcare, chemicals and clothing.
3.3 Thelabour force in the sub-region (1987 figures) is about 115,000 which shows an increase of over 3 per cent since 1981. This has been accompanied by a change in the pattern of employment by sector over the period as shown in the following table:
Employment by sector 1981 and 1987 per cent of number at work
|
1981
|
1987
|
|
Agriculture
|
30.9
|
23.5
|
|
Industry
|
28.5
|
30.2
|
|
Services
|
38.8
|
46.2
|
These changes in the labour force are overshadowed by the growth in unemployment over the period from 15,700, or 14.1 per cent to 23,700, or 20.6 per cent of the labour force.
3.4 Averageper capita income (1984 figures) is about 85 per cent of the national figure and about 49 per cent of the EC average.
Development objectives
4.1 The primary aim for the sub-region is the creation of viable, sustainable employment in all sectors of the economy so as to reduce unemployment, retain population and raiseper capita income, while protecting and improving the environment.
4.2 An essential prerequisite for measures to achieve this aim is the provision of an adequateinfrastructure:
—access roads to the sub-region and roads within the sub-region must be improved. This will involve the improvement of national, regional and county roads;
—water supplies and waste and sewage disposal facilities must be improved if the sub-region is to attract industry and tourism in a worthwhile way and if the environment is to be protected and enhanced;
—further development of regional airports is important to facilitate tourism growth and other economic activity;
—advanced telecommunications services to and within the sub-region must be introduced.
4.3 Given the rural nature of the sub-region, and notwithstanding the marginal nature of the land and the problem of farm size,agriculture is likely to continue as an important source of employment in the sub-region. However, it is necessary to improve dramatically on the present situation regarding farm income. To do this it will be necessary to improve farm efficiency, improve quality and diversify into alternative products and agri-projects.
4.4Rural development must be a priority in order to halt the depopulation of rural areas. Two of the areas, and part of two other areas, for the Pilot Programme for Integrated Rural Development are in the sub-region. The lessons which will be learned from that programme must be applied across the sub-region.
4.5 Much of the marginal land in the sub-region is eminently suitable forforestry. It is intended to increase substantially the area under forestry over the five-year period to 1993. This should be accompanied by a substantial growth in timber processing. It will be necessary to construct new and improve existing forest roads to enable the potential of forests to be exploited.
4.6 Thefishing industry is already an important sector in the sub-region. Four of the ten ports with the largest landings in the State are located in the sub-region; one of those, Killybegs, accounts for 40 per cent of national tonnage. However, efforts must be made to capitalise on this by fleet modernisation and the development of a fish processing industry. Aquaculture, particularly salmon farming, is also reasonably well established. There is evidence of possibilities for other species particularly shell fish. Much remains to be done, especially as regards the provision of facilities, to develop the full potential of angling in the many inland lakes and rivers of the sub-region.
4.7Tourism is already reasonably well established in the sub-region but the full potential is far from being reached. For many areas tourism is the only possible developmental sector. Some 272,000 overseas visitors (13 per cent of the national total) visited the sub-region in 1987; by 1992 it is intended to bring this figure up to 588,000 giving rise to an estimated 2,000 additional jobs. The principal strategy is to develop products based on the sub-region's natural cultural and heritage attractions.
4.8 Notwithstanding what can be achieved in the sectors already mentionedindustry will be the key to creating permanent employment. To achieve an expansion of the industrial base it will be necessary to promote:
—the establishment of small and medium-sized industries particularly those based on indigenous resources and the expansion of existing such industries;
—the attraction of new overseas investment and the expansion of existing overseas industries in the sub-region;
—the attraction of international service industries;
—the improvement of technology;
—the promotion of a strong marketing capability.
4.9 Of equal importance to the physical infrastructure as a prerequisite for economic development is the availability of an able and efficient work force.Education and training must, therefore, be a prime objective. This objective can be achieved by:
—developing and adjusting education-training programmes to respond to structural changes in the economy and to technological change;
—encouraging an increase in the numbers of people who receive education-training after the compulsory period of education;
—improving skills of persons with special labour problems to enable them to avail of job opportunities;
—upgrading and extending facilities for education-training.
4.10 The sub-region is well placed for the further development of economic and socialco-operation with Northern Ireland thus providing for a much higher level of integrated development within the island of Ireland as a whole. It is expected that there will be a considerable boost to tourism in both parts of the island with the proposed linking of the Shannon and Erne water systems by the re-opening of the Ballinamore- Ballyconnell Canal.
Sub-Region 6: North West
Expenditure on structural development included in the Development Plan which will take place in this sub-region 1989-1993.
|
Total Expenditure
|
Amount put forward for EC support
|
Support sought from EC
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
£m
|
|
Transport
|
|
|
|
|
(i) Roads:National
|
51.00
|
42.00
|
31.50
|
|
Non-National
|
38.00
|
12.50
|
7.50
|
|
(ii) Rail and Bus
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
0.27
|
|
(iii) Access Transport (Sea and air freight, sea ports and airports)
|
3.00
|
3.00
|
1.50
|
|
Sanitary and other local services
|
36.27
|
28.97
|
14.51
|
|
Telecommunications (including STAR) and Postal Services
|
26.00
|
3.30
|
1.82
|
|
Energy (gas, electricity, peat including VALOREN)
|
23.10
|
—
|
—
|
|
Industry
|
294.67
|
100.32
|
54.41
|
|
Tourism
|
294.67
|
33.10
|
54.41
|
|
Agriculture and Rural Development (including forestry and fishery harbours)
|
428.47
|
355.17
|
199.18
|
|
Human Resources: Education, Training and Employment (including vocational training infrastructure)
|
182.40
|
182.40
|
100.70
|
|
Total
|
1,116.61
|
761.36
|
430.59
|
