A ‘two speed’ economy has emerged leaving the West and North West out
A study by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly says a policy of ‘positive discrimination’ is required to accelerate growth and stem decline in the north, west and border communities of Ireland.
The report ‘A Region in Transition: The Way Forward’ found startling levels of inequality in terms of investment across a number of key areas such as health, education, infrastructure and transport.
Failure to address these critical investment shortfalls means that a ‘two-speed economy’ has developed in Ireland.
It has also emerged that the EU has downgraded the northern and western region from being considered as ‘Developed’ and has applied a new designation of ‘In Transition’.
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) is one of three state bodies tasked with representing and leading regional growth through European funds and planning.
The report’s author chief economist of the NWRA John Daly analysed data over a 10-year period and found significant levels of regional under-investment between the years of 2008 to 2018.