Call for priority investment in Irish cities

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today called for the prioritisation of investment in Dublin and our other main cities to enhance and ensure Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.

"It is vital that Irish cities are enabled to achieve their full potential and thereby enhance national competitiveness," the NCC said in a statement marking the release of a report on the issue.

Launching the report, entitled 'Our Cities: Drivers of National Competitiveness', Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said: "Ireland’s cities are thriving and with targeted investment, there is no doubt but that they will develop as international centres, not just economically, but socially and culturally too.”

“The harsh new fiscal realities which Ireland now faces necessitate a rigorous process of prioritisation and sequencing of public expenditure to position Ireland to take advantage of the global economic recovery when it occurs," said NCC Chairman Dr Don Thornhill.

"The evidence clearly demonstrates that cities improve economic growth and living standards with significant benefits for national living standards," he added.

"It is critical that both national and regional policies support the development of Dublin and our main cities."

Dr Thornhill said that improving the way our cities work requires action across a range of areas including city governance, transport policy and urban branding.

"Prioritising investment in our cities and developing the links between them is essential.”