Package will put £3.2bn into BMW counties

The details of the first of Ireland's regional development plans, a £3.2 billion investment package for the 13 counties in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region, will be announced at a meeting of the BMW Regional Assembly in Roscommon today.

Among the key features of the package are: £848 million to rebuild more than 12,000km of county or local roads; £278 million for the deployment of high-speed communications availability to almost every house in the region; and £41 million for the renewal of 464 small towns and villages.

The £3.2 billion BMW Operational Programme is the "local" element of the £13.31 billion to be invested by the Government and the EU in the BMW counties over the next 6 1/2 years. Control of the remaining £10 billion of investment is to remain in the hands of central Government through programmes administered by Government Departments.

When the local and central monies are combined, it is the equivalent of £13,793 in funding for every adult and child in the region.

It represents an unprecedented level of investment in the region, which has in the last five years seen a turnaround in population decline. The aim is to put in place the necessary infrastructure to ensure the spread of economic prosperity to areas that have traditionally been among the most disadvantaged.

The investment details are expected to be followed by a similar programme from the Southern and Eastern Regional Authority and political approval for Northern Ireland's 25-year development plan Shaping our Future, which are expected before Christmas.

There are four sub-programmes in the BMW programme. They are Local Infrastructure (£1,988 million), Local Enterprise Development (£438 million), Agriculture Development (£503 million) and Social Inclusion measures (£298 million).

The operational programme also includes the provision of £145 million for the development of culture, recreation and sport. This will involve the creation of five regional sports centres, the development of 15 new and existing arts centres, habitat protection and heritage conservation. £38 million is to be provided for the inland waterways in the region.

Some £14.4 million is provided for links between the institutes of technology and business under the business innovation scheme; there will be £97 million for micro enterprises (small business start-ups).

Grant aid to the regional airports will amount to £9.4 million, while seaports stand to be funded to the tune of £20 million.

Childcare is to be grant-aided by £94 million, reflecting State policy in the area. Community and local development measures will amount to more than £156 million.

Some £20 million will be invested in marine tourism, £92 million in forestry and £109 million in fishery harbours and harbours in Gaeltacht areas.