West of Ireland falling behind East - report

A report by the Western Development Commission says action is needed immediately to bridge the widening gap between the East and the West.

The report states that the West is falling behind as a region despite the National Development Plan.

Liam Scollon, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, said that it may be unpopular but he has to tell it like it is even if the Government finds it unpalatable.

"It's time that planning on infrastructure caught up with the trend of people wanting to move out of the city and live in rural areas," he said, "If we look on the West with a kind of vision - say, this is the West we want to live in, and not just as commuter routes for Sligo, Athlone and Galway."