Ibec, representing Irish business, has stated that in the face of pressing inflationary challenges, there must be greater focus by Government on enhancing quality-of-life and addressing sustainability issues if the West is to develop as an area of national and international significance and stimulate long-term economic growth.
The call came as Ibec hosted leading voices in regional business at The Galmont Hotel in Galway, as part of its Regional Insights Series.
Speaking at the event, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: "Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential in becoming a globally competitive location to attract investment from the world’s leading companies and become a magnet for top talent both from within Ireland and overseas.
"However, while the West is well positioned to compete against other European cities for talent, trade and investment, there are still issues to address and barriers to overcome. Decades of underinvestment means that a range of challenges in crucial quality-of-life areas like housing, education, transport and inter-regional connectivity must be addressed if the region is to realise its full potential.
"People decide where to live based on quality-of-life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent and, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place, as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level.
"Crucially, these challenges also must be addressed in a means that balances economic, environmental, social and governance goals. Ibec wants to work with all stakeholders to build sustainable competitive advantages for the region and drive positive economic and societal impact. Achieving that vision will be important not only for the region but also for the continued growth and success of the national economy."
Ibec’s cited its key priorities for the region as follows: (1 ) Deliver on investment outlined in the new funding and reform framework for higher education, (2 ) Enable the key transport projects in the Galway Metropolitan Area, including BusConnects, delivering multi-modal usage and sustainable mobility, accessible for all, (3 ) Deliver the right housing house types, tenures and sizes linked to active and public transport to meet current and future needs, (4 ) Create and maintain sustainable neighbourhoods and develop a compact liveable city based on attractive, diverse and accessible urban spaces, (5 ) Integrate land-use and transport planning to increase walking, cycling and public transport usage, (6 ) Accelerate the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan and ensure a supportive regulatory environment for the successful roll-out of 5G, (7 ) Prioritise strategic road projects, including the N6 Galway City Ring Road, (8 ) Support the development and enhancement of the experience economy, which is central to region’s attractiveness as a place to work, live and invest, (9 ) Invest in the city and town centres to ensure growth is resilient by achieving a greater mix of uses in urban centres, (10 ) Maximise the potential for renewable energy development along the western seaboard. and (11 ) Match the ambition in the new Research and Innovation Strategy with the necessary investment and strengthen research and innovation capacity in the region.
