Income figures reveal worrying trends for Westmeath and the midlands

The recently published county income figures from the Central Statistics Office must give cause for concern for policy makers and those who wield influence across Westmeath. The figures reproduced elsewhere in this paper indicate that Westmeath has suffered a dramatic fall down the country's income league table over recent years. Although the statistics come with a health warning (the CSO says the county estimates should be interpreted with caution and should be regarded as indicative of relative levels rather than as accurate absolute figures), the trend is clearly worrying. In 2003, Westmeath was the country's seventh richest county, four years later (in the most recent figures), the county was joint 19th wealthiest. The trend has been clearly downward since 2003. And even accepting the CSO's own caution, the now four-year decline is clearly not a statistical quirk but a reflection of a real problem on the ground. In 2007, Westmeath lost its title as the Midlands' wealthiest county for the first time to Laois, so matters should be kept in perspective. The average disposable income levels in Westmeath remain above those of neighbouring counties such as Offaly, Roscommon and Longford. Nonetheless, the causes of the county's decline must be analysed by the plethora of agencies, local authorities and public bodies with responsibility in this region. In real terms, income levels in Westmeath have risen over recent years. However, the figures show the increase has been larger in other areas with counties such as Clare, Sligo, North Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Monaghan and Cavan all passing out Westmeath since 2003. Why did Westmeath not benefit from the economic boom to the same extent as these other areas? On a regional level, the statistics also highlight a worrying issue; for the first time in the decade, the Midland was the country's poorest region, falling below the Border area of (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo). We have always believed the Midlands to be Ireland's forgotten area. The West has a plethora of voices such as the Western Development Commission to fight its corner. The midlands has never acted as a unified region. It is almost seen as the part of the country left over when the rest is divided into more well-known regional labels such as the North East, South East, Mid-West and so on. Within the region there is also unhelpful local rivalries with Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore often striving against each other for localised growth, at the expense of the regional picture. The Midland Gateway Chamber is a relatively new body, which aims to unite the business communities of the three named towns, and is a laudable, if yet unproven, initiative. The Midland Regional Authority is a toothless talking shop, although there is renewed co-operation between local authorities on a regional level. There are now legitimate concerns that the planned cutbacks in services and expenditure by the Government will disproportionally affect rural Ireland - and such an event could possibly see the Midlands even more badly impacted. Maybe, it's time for the establishment of a regional forum to consider how best to develop, promote and unify the midlands. It's time this region started shouting from the rooftops - for in Ireland too often, it's those who shout loudest who gain most.