Key people in business and development agencies express their views on investment in the west of Ireland.
Mr Kevin Thompstone, chief executive, Shannon Development
One of the critical needs is to develop strong transport links up and down the west coast to allow greater integration of activity and to create opportunities for development. The Western Corridor envisages better road and, in the medium-term, rail links. Thus while we welcome the commencement of work on the Ennis bypass, there is urgent need to continue work on the Crusheen and Gort bypasses to open up the link between Limerick-Shannon-Ennis and Galway. This has huge implications for opening up the catchment of the international airport at Shannon for the west of Ireland.
The Western Rail Corridor is also important. We are currently working towards the provision of a rail link to Shannon Airport to connect to the mainline service. Providing a rail link now would result in a lower cost than waiting until congestion and other difficulties increase.
The new Limerick-Ennis commuter rail service is already proving to be hugely successful, and we need to exploit the potential for commuter rail around Limerick city. Equally, the rail line between Ennis and Galway should be reopened.
A fourth river crossing, the Shannon Tunnel in Limerick, needs to proceed immediately.
Dr Chris Coughlan, member of the management team at Hewlett Packard, Galway; member of the Atlantic Corridor; president of Galway Chamber of Commerce.
We urgently need a Government commitment to funding the implementation of an integrated road, rail and air strategy to and from and within the west of Ireland.
Progress will have to be seen particularly in relation to road infrastructure. The lack of priority, for example, in the road between Galway and Dublin and the road from Galway to Shannon is nothing less than discrimination between the eastern and western regions of our country, but properly executed infrastructure would have a significant positive national economic effect.
The newly appointed Shannon Airport Authority must work with regional airports, such as Galway, rather than competing. Its responsibility to business and the general public lies way beyond the Shannon region.
The rail network is of a third world standard and at best minimal and inadequate. We must have functioning links from Galway to Limerick and to Cork. The state of the current service shows the lack of strategic planning, quality and dependability of service and customer consideration. I cannot understand the frequency of engine breakdowns that occur. I am glad Iarnród Éireann doesn't operate an airline!Ms Louise McDonnell, chief executive, Ballina Chamber of Commerce
It is vital that the second stage of the N26 be delivered. The N26 links to the N5, the main road to the capital. Bad road infrastructure is costing the region in terms of jobs and there is a huge drop in tourist numbers in 2004 as people prefer to use roads that are safer and provide faster access.
Existing industries also are suffering due to goods damaged in transit. One company in Mayo has reported up to €500,000 damage to goods in transit in one year alone. Some sections of the N5 are not planned to be completed until 2019. This must change.
There is an opportunity for the Government to privatise the commercial freight portion of CIÉ operations and to offer subsidies to promote rail usage and reduce road congestion/vehicle emissions. The IDA has said it is not in a position to attract energy intensive industry to the region because of this deficiency in the electrical supply. The ESB's current plans do not cater for any industrial development or energy projects. Nor will they be able to accommodate a "Masonite" or a large power user such as a data centre in the region. Plans must be put in place to extend the gas network to Ballina for supply to commercial and domestic users.
Dr Patricia O'Hara, policy director, Western Development Commission
The key priorities are the availability and cost of broadband, and transport access, including air access. An additional priority, particularly for businesses in the internationally traded services sector, is a reliable energy supply.
The following are immediate priorities:
A strengthening of the capacity of the region's airports, particularly Knock and Shannon.
Ensuring broadband telecommunications availability at a competitive cost. Currently where broadband is available in the more rural areas, the cost is often greater than in urban areas.
A strengthening of the electricity transmission system, in particular in Mayo, is essential.
Reversing the current NDP underspend on road projects within the region, in particular the upgrading of the N5 to Castlebar; the completion of the upgrading of the N4 to Sligo; the upgrading to motorway of the N6 to Galway; improvement of the N17 to Sligo; while the N18 which links Galway with Shannon Airport is in need of urgent improvement.
Improved rail services to serve Ballina/Castlebar, Galway and Ennis and, in the longer term, the opening of the Western Rail Corridor.
Ms Louise McDonnell, chief executive, Ballina Chamber of Commerce
It is vital that the second stage of the N26 be delivered. The N26 links to the N5, the main road to the capital. Bad road infrastructure is costing the region in terms of jobs and there is a huge drop in tourist numbers in 2004 as people prefer to use roads that are safer and provide faster access.
Existing industries also are suffering due to goods damaged in transit. One company in Mayo has reported up to €500,000 damage to goods in transit in one year alone. Some sections of the N5 are not planned to be completed until 2019. This must change.
There is an opportunity for the Government to privatise the commercial freight portion of CIÉ operations and to offer subsidies to promote rail usage and reduce road congestion/vehicle emissions. The IDA has said it is not in a position to attract energy intensive industry to the region because of this deficiency in the electrical supply. The ESB's current plans do not cater for any industrial development or energy projects. Nor will they be able to accommodate a "Masonite" or a large power user such as a data centre in the region. Plans must be put in place to extend the gas network to Ballina for supply to commercial and domestic users.