New plan for developing BMW region

A plan for the development of the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region for the next 20 years is to be launched by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche this morning.

The plan contains the framework for economic and social development from the end of 2006 (when the current National Development Plan runs out) until 2025.

Included in the strategy is a brief overview of the current state of the region, which is critical of the slow pace of development under the National Development Plan and acknowledges lesser European funding post 2006.

But its authors - a sub-committee of the BMW regional assembly - insist the 13-county BMW area has the potential to become "an innovative, knowledge-based region, with a high-quality environment, first-class infrastructure, visionary leadership and a quality of life for its citizens that is among the best in the world".

Outlining a 10-point development framework, the report calls for the speedy delivery of promises for infrastructure, especially "key national primary and secondary roads linking urban centres and designated growth centres".

Also included in the strategy are calls for:

The strategy also calls for the development of third-level institutes of technology and improving their links to industry.

According to the chairman of the BMW assembly, Michael McGreal, the report, which follows 18 months of analysis and consultation, is timely, coming towards the end of the current National Development Plan and the planning of the next programme. "As outlined in the Foresight Report, the BMW faces many challenges, but there are also immense opportunities which the region must grasp if it is to fulfil its potential," he said.

"The BMW region's heavy reliance on low value-added industries renders it particularly vulnerable in the context of the decline and restructuring of traditional manufacturing, agriculture and primary processing industries.

"Although agriculture and related industries contribute a declining share of the BMW region's output, falling from more than 13 per cent 10 years ago to 5 per cent today, agriculture is still a dominant activity in the BMW region, which produces about 38 per cent of national agricultural output.

"Of growing concern is the increased level of imported foodstuffs, particularly meat, from countries that have far lower levels of traceability and monitoring than Ireland has.

"This is a form of unfair competition and is driving down the prices that producers are being paid," Mr McGreal said.