Vol. 576 No. 5
81 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will direct the IDA and other State agencies to prioritise the areas of greatest unemployment as outlined in the recent CSO report, which indicated the Border region was one of the areas worst affected by unemployment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29854/03]
Regional development is a significant focus of Government policy. Its importance has been confirmed in the current national development plan, the national spatial strategy, NSS, and the recently announced decentralisation programme. The objective of the State development agencies has been to encourage the design of a strategy that will enable as many areas as possible to share in balanced regional development. The overall IDA strategy is based on a gateway approach and, consistent with the NSS, the number of gateway towns will be nine including three in the Border area, namely, Sligo, Letterkenny and Dundalk. The intention is that each gateway town will lead the economic development of its region through stimulating growth in the surrounding areas.
Enterprise Ireland is working to ensure that indigenous industry in the Border region plays an important role in achieving the balanced regional strategy envisaged in the NSS. Enterprise Ireland is working closely with companies in the Border region to improve their competitiveness and to enable them to grow. Preferential funding is being provided for companies with detailed export plans who are expanding or establishing a business in the Border region. Enterprise Ireland has also been very much involved in the provision of third level campus-based innovation centres in the Border region in Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo.
The effectiveness of these strategies will be strongly influenced by a supportive business environment in the regions. I am satisfied that the combined efforts of the agencies and the Government's commitment to regional development, will facilitate economic development in the Border area.
