Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
521. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the Western Development Commission; the role it will have in relation to the national development plan; the work under way to address the depopulation of the counties under its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8369/18]
View answerThe Western Development Commission (WDC) was established on a statutory basis in 1999 as part of a response to the severe population decline in the Western Region at that time. The remit of the Commission is to promote the economic and social development of the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare.
The WDC is an important part of a wider focus on regional development by the Government, which also involves a deeper role in economic development by the Local Authorities and the Regional Assemblies.
The Government’s new National Planning Framework and National Development Plan both place an emphasis on the development of the western region and improving access to the region and within the region itself. The National Planning Framework also recognises the potential of the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to contributing to the regional growth objectives of the Framework. These include increasing the population of the regions outside of the Eastern and Midlands region.
I anticipate that the WDC will play an important role in helping to deliver on the Government’s objectives.
The Commission is represented on the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, as well as on the Implementing Committees which oversee the Action Plans for Jobs for the West and North-West regions.
The Commission is also represented on the Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development.
The Commission also continues to implement initiatives to support the development of SMEs and emerging sectors in the western region, including a new €2 million fund to encourage the film, television, animation and games industry in the West of the country.
