The first big test of the Government's commitment to regional development will come when the new Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, decides on the future of the Sligo/Limerick rail line. The indications are bad. Forwhile both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats promised to renew and upgrade a Western Rail Corridor in their separate election manifestos, that commitment was not included in the Agreed Programme for Government.
The former chief executive of the Western Development Commission, Mr Liam Scollan, feels the Government will now hide behind the excuse that the project is not viable, in order to save money.
Local communities along the Sligo/Limerick corridor are pushing hard for the line to be reopened, as a basis for commuter links to feed the three regional centres and reduce road congestion, and for freight services. The cost of reopening and upgrading the line has been estimated at less that one per cent of the projected transport-spending plan for the Dublin region. Submissions made by nine county development boards to a Strategic Rail Study, commissioned by the Department of Public Enterprise, unanimously supported the development. But, the reallocation of responsibility for air, road and rail traffic leaves the final decision to Mr Brennan.
The election of five Independent TDs along the Western seaboard is a clear indication of public disillusion with the outgoing government. A sizeable proportion of the people of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Kerry obviously felt their interests were not being served and that there was a continuing bias in favour of the more populous Dublin region.
Splitting the State into two development regions may have increased the amount of EU structural funding secured. But there is a perception that the extra funds did not go exclusively to the Border, Midlands and West region. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Ms Harney, has committed herself to doubling the level of foreign investment in Objective One areas. For that to happen, there is a need for improved transport services, higher-voltage electricity and extensive fibre-optic cabling. Without positive discrimination, the West will continue to decline. The Government must make a start by re-opening the Sligo/Limerick line.