Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
66. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will report on the development of the Atlantic economic corridor; the work, including meetings, that have taken place since the establishment of his Department; and if the inclusion of the AEC and its development has been sought by his Department in the upcoming national planning framework and the capital plan. [1291/18]
View answerThe 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 concept was proposed in February 2016 by a group involving a number of Chambers of Commerce in the Western region and the American Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.
The overarching objective of the Atlantic Economic Corridor proposal is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for those who live there.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established by my colleague, Minister Michael Ring in March 2017 to progress the proposal. As Minister of State 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 four times since it was established - most recently in Sligo - and will continue to meet on a regular basis. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce have also been established to progress specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy.
My Department has been working closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in the drafting of the National Planning Framework (NPF). The Atlantic Economic Corridor, and the need to improve access to the North-West in particular, is referenced in the draft Framework which was published for public consultation in September 2017.
My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as they work towards finalising the NPF. The forthcoming capital investment plan will be closely aligned to the NPF.
