Underinvestment in midlands affecting quality of life says IBEC
“Decades of chronic underinvestment in key infrastructure” is threatening to undermine the prospects for economic recovery in Westmeath and the rest of the midlands, according to IBEC.
In its submission to the mid-term review of the National Development Plan, the group, which represents Irish business, says that this underinvestment in infrastructure in the region has “ catalysed quality-of-life challenges in areas such as housing, environment, health, childcare, and commuting, each of which are determining factors in regional competitiveness and prosperity”.
Among the key recommendations in IBEC's submission include the completion of the Mullingar to Longford stretch of the N4; the investment in tourism infrastructure; the acceleration of the roll out of the National Broadband Plan and the provision of “enabling infrastructure for Athlone to deliver its function as the Regional Growth Centre”.
IBEC senior regional executive Helen Leahy said: “An ‘NDP Plus’ programme of investment is required to provide infrastructure to support better lives and better business. The NDP will be vital to enable the recovery of the Midlands and raise economic activity and productivity. An updated NDP must take account of the changed environment and support the sustainable development of the region with ambitious investment.
“Capital investment in the region needs to be expanded to address the impacts of Covid and offset the decline in economic activity. Investment is needed to make the region more resilient and globally competitive due to Covid, Brexit and other threats, with sectors such as tourism, hospitality and leisure particularly exposed. The importance of resolving the infrastructure challenges including transport, housing and connectivity challenges will be critical in generating economic activity and prosperity. Key enabling infrastructure for underpinning future growth must be prioritised.
“The post-pandemic economic fate of towns across the Midlands cannot be left to chance. It must be planned for and invested in. Immediate challenges, if not mitigated or addressed, will cause lasting damage and undermine any recovery effort. Town centre renewal will take on added importance because under-performing towns can be a drag on regional growth. Incentives must allow urban centres of sufficient scale to develop, particularly the designated Regional Growth Centre of Athlone and ‘Key Towns’. The benefits of such growth can be spread to surrounding rural areas. Enhanced funding and alternative mechanisms to support investment and financing must be utilised,” she said.