Joe Carey
Question:89. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Atlantic economic corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15236/19]
View answerWednesday, 3 April 2019
Questions (89)
Written answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to create an economic area of scale along the western seaboard.
The initiative aims to maximise the assets of the region and to better utilise the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the area to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people who live in the region.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established in March 2017 to oversee and progress the initiative. The Taskforce, which I now chair, meets every quarter. The Taskforce includes representatives of all of the key public and private sector stakeholders along the Corridor.
Three sub-groups have been established to support the work of the Taskforce, focusing on infrastructure, enterprise space and communications. These sub-groups meet twice each quarter and are currently implementing agreed work programmes with tangible results.
My Department also provides co-funding for a dedicated AEC Officer in each of the 10 Local Authorities along the Corridor. This AEC Officer network is a resource to support the work of the AEC Taskforce and its sub-groups, as well as to promote the AEC concept more widely.
This year, I have also provided the Western Development Commission with additional funding to strengthen the co-ordination of the AEC initiative and to develop a cohesive network of digital and enterprise hubs within the AEC region. Work on this project has already begun.
There have been significant private sector investment and job announcements along the Atlantic Economic Corridor region in the last 12 months, which reflects the fact that the West of Ireland is an attractive place for employers and investors. The work of the AEC Taskforce will further highlight the potential of the region for national and international investment.