Tony McLoughlin
Question:106. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Atlantic economic corridor, including the recruitment of AEC officers in the relevant counties. [38323/18]
View answerTuesday, 25 September 2018
Questions (106)
Written answers
The 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 Atlantic Economic Corridor has also been recognised in the National Planning Framework as a potential key enabler to the regional growth objectives of the NPF.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established in March 2017 to progress the proposal. 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 six times since it was established, most recently in Galway in June 2018, with a seventh meeting scheduled for October 2018. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce are progressing specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy.
I launched the AEC website www.atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie in Galway in June 2018. The website offers information for people thinking of setting up a business in the region, or for those interested in relocating to the region.
Local Authorities are playing a key role in ensuring a cohesive approach is taken to the development of the AEC. To support this, my Department is providing funding of €30,000 to each of the Local Authorities along the Corridor to co-fund the appointment of a dedicated AEC Officer who will work to develop and promote the AEC initiative and support the work of the Taskforce and its sub-groups. Five of these Local Authorities (Leitrim, Limerick, Clare, Mayo and Roscommon) have already appointed AEC Officers. The remaining five Local Authorities (Sligo, Kerry, Donegal, Galway City and Galway County) have interim officers in place and are in the process of designating AEC Officers to fulfil the role on a permanent basis.