Representatives to hold regional investment conference

Key commentators specialising in regional development will gather for a two-day conference in Co Clare tomorrow to discuss the need for greater investment in areas outside Dublin.

The Balancing Regional Development event will take place at the Shannon Shamrock Hotel in Bunratty.

It will be attended by Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon O’Cuiv, chairman of Shannon Development John Brassil, Clare Community Forum chairman Richard Cahill and other speakers.

It comes after 10,000 people packed into Limerick city centre yesterday to protest at the Aer Lingus decision to scrap its Shannon to Heathrow service.

Mr Cahill said: “The media is awash with reports of organisations, politicians and community groups stressing the need for balanced regional development with many highlighting the imbalance that exists in terms of state investment in the regions.

“This level of criticism, well-intentioned as it may be, needs to become more focused on identifying ways to rectify the regional development imbalance that exists between Dublin and the regions.

“The aim of the upcoming conference will be to formulate such solutions, which will in turn be presented to the Government,” he said.

Mr Cahill accused the state of failing to achieve the National Development Plan objective of balanced and sustainable regional development.

He pointed to the loss of the Shannon Airport’s slots at London Heathrow as an example of this failure.

“The Government must now seriously look at its policies on regional development, not just for the mid-west region but for all areas outside of the greater Dublin area,” he said.

Church leaders gave their support to local and opposition politicians and trade unions in demanding Government action to keep the Heathrow to Shannon air route open.

The Save Our Slots rally saw the mayors of Limerick city, Clare, Tipperary North and the chair of Limerick County Council joining forces with the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance and the Shannon Action Group.

They all fear the withdrawal of the air link will have a serious effect on both business and tourism in the mid-west.

Aer Lingus is to transfer the Heathrow slot as part of a £100 million regional hub it is setting up in December, serving nine routes out of Belfast.

Other speakers at tomorrow’s rally will include Dr William Hynes, a UCD lecturer and regional development expert, who will provide an overview of what regional infrastructure development means from a European perspective.

Mr Brassil will speak on the subject of industry and employment in the context of regional development while former president of the Irish Countrywoman’s Association Anne Murray will speak on how regional development has affected the health service.