The creation of a strong "economic corridor" between Athlone and Mullingar is part of a development strategy for Co Westmeath which will be published tomorrow .
"One of the strengths of the county is that it has two good towns, which not many rural counties would have, but the links between them are not as strong as they might be," says Mr Pat Gallagher, director of community and enterprise with Westmeath County Development Board.
The board drew up the strategy, which sets an overall framework within which public bodies in the county will deliver their range of services over the next decade.
He said business, commercial, and infrastructure links would be developed to bring both towns together to operate more closely as a single economic unit.
One recent positive development is the inclusion of both towns in the recently announced broadband network of towns throughout the State.
Mr Gallagher also confirmed the county development board would be making a submission to the Department of Public Enterprise to reopen the Mullingar to Athlone rail route, the physical structure of which was still in place. The line, he said, would have the added value of serving Moate.
Westmeath has had significant population growth in recent years, rising to a current level of 72,000. "Most of this growth has occurred in and around the two major towns (particularly Mullingar) and along the major road network in the eastern areas of the county, which are under the influence of the Dublin metropolitan region," the report says.
However, Mr Gallagher said that, instead of solely promoting the county as part of the commuter belt, the strategy would examine how best to harness the skills of Dublin commuters for "the economic and social development of the county".
For example, he said the county enterprise board is asking commuters if they would be interested in working, for a couple of days a week, in an electronics business centre in Mullingar.
Athlone, the report notes, is of great strategic importance for the development of the county, the midland region and the country as a whole. The town should be established as a "gateway to investment" in the county.
As well as the focus on Athlone and Mullingar, the strategy emphasises the importance of rural development in the county.
Mr Gallagher says the county council is already moving to achieve this: one-stop shops are beginning to be opened in Castlepollard in the north of the county and Kilbeggan in the south. These facilities would, said Mr Gallagher, provide three main types of public services: council services, other public services; and services from other statutory bodies.
"Given that the county already has a strong economic base in Mullingar and Athlone, attention has also been paid to the social development of the county," said Mr Gallagher.
Social inclusion is a major part of the strategy, with a focus on elderly people, Travellers, lone parents, and people with disabilities. Mr Gallagher said social inclusion was especially important considering the increasing ethnic diversity of the county.
An objective of the report is to develop an agreed approach to address the various needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, non-national workers and others.
The cultural development of the county is a major challenge, Mr Gallagher said. Important also was the creation of a coherent identity for the county. An arts officer has recently been appointed by the county council, he said.
Issues that required further consideration include how to increase labour force participation rates, especially of women, by addressing the deficit in local, especially rural transport, and by enhancing childcare facilities.
To ensure effective planning and land use, the strategy aims to "encourage the development of buildings of all types that are environmentally efficient to build and run, and which contribute to the greening of the county".