In its end of year statement published today, Monday 22nd December 2008, the Western Development Commission (WDC) has said that the Western Region should be positioned as an International Energy Centre, serving the energy needs of the entire island of Ireland and beyond.

Gillian Buckley CEO said; “This year, the WDC identified the potential of The Western Region’s natural resources of ocean, wind, and wood energy. Our research shows that these sectors present enormous opportunities. If the Western Region’s renewable energy resources are developed to their full potential it would provide the country with security of energy supply. This would be a complete turnaround of the current situation where Ireland has, at 90%, one of the highest dependencies on imported fossil fuel.”

She added, “The Western Region has unique advantages because of its coastal location, and these natural resources and advantages cannot be replicated by other regions in Ireland. This is one of the aspects that makes the Western Region unique, and one that the region should capitalise on for its own and the nation’s benefit.”

The WDC has also called for public and private investment in order to position the region to exploit its distinctiveness and natural advantages. It says that as well as generating renewable energy, the region can also develop and manufacture the technologies to harness the energy. This will create employment opportunities to counteract the recent decline in all sectors, especially construction and manufacturing.

Ms Buckley explained that Ireland has the second best wind resource in Europe and most of the best wind power sites are located in the western counties. She said that the wave and tidal energy off the west coast has the potential to position Ireland as an exporter of energy, while wood biomass also offers significant opportunities as the region has 40% of the country’s afforestated lands.

She added, “The WDC has developed a regional strategy to develop the wood biomass sector which we will implement in partnership with state and private partners in 2009. Developing this sector will lead to the creation of 900 jobs, the vast majority of them in rural areas. It will reduce CO2 emissions by over 600,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 92,000 cars off our roads. Developing the strategy is a good example of the WDC’s collaborative approach to coordinated regional development.”

Balanced Regional Development

Ms Buckley said, “Our conference on Balanced Regional Development in May highlighted the issues involved in delivering balanced regional development with senior policy makers, academics, and business and regional leaders. The conference heard that the Western Region not only has the potential to contribute to the national economy in line with Government policy as set out in the National Spatial Strategy and the National Development Plan, but that with the right investment the region can become one of the leading regions in the world with high quality employment opportunities. The WDC also points out that, among OECD counties, regions, similar to the Western Region, are now recognised as focal points for economic development.

Need for sustained western regional focus

The original rationale for the establishment of the WDC in 1997 was the intense public pressure and concern at the long period of economic and social decline in the western counties. Ms Buckley said that despite the solid progress in the region over the last ten years, the disparity between the Western Region and other regions continue to exist, and sustained focus on the region remains a requirement.

“We conducted research early in 2008 that showed that 43% of people surveyed in the Greater Dublin Area believe that the economic gap between East and West had widened in the past five years, so our work is as important now as it was when we were established.”

“There is no doubt that we are now operating in a difficult economic environment. CSO figures for the Western Region show a 65% increase in the number of people on the live register in the 12 month period to November 2008. Traditionally, the construction sector has been more important to employment in the Western Region than in the rest of the State, so its

decline presents a significant challenge particularly for rural areas. Now, more than ever, our work in promoting economic and social development is needed,” she added.

She also stressed the need for continued investment in infrastructure, and says that such investment will facilitate the movement of people and goods which is essential to support jobs and enterprise. It would also have major positive implications for the cost competitiveness of the Western Region, helping to ensure that the viability of enterprises currently located in the region, whilst also enhancing its attractiveness to inward investment.

Seed capital for early stage high growth companies

Ms Buckley said that the WDC Investment Fund continues to fulfil a distinctive role in funding businesses, community initiatives and ‘flagship’ projects in the region by providing seed and venture capital or loans to sustainable projects which are experiencing a funding gap.

“We seek a financial return on our investments, together with a social dividend such as enhancing quality of life and providing employment. Risk capital funding is essential if we are to develop knowledge economy enterprises in the Western Region. To date the WDC Investment Fund has supported 80 enterprises which employ over 1,200 people in the region and it remains a vital source of capital for early stage, high growth potential companies,” Ms Buckley added.

Creative Sector

“Other unique factors of the Western Region include our landscape, quality of life and our heritage. These give us a competitive advantage to position the West as a Creative Region which will attract top talent, drive innovation and enterprise in the wider economy and support tourism. We are devising a strategy for the region’s creative economy in conjunction with regional businesses and a highlevel industry advisory group. Enterprises in the creative economy sector include architecture, art, crafts, design, film, software, music, performing arts, television and radio. Our research shows that there are already 4,700 enterprises in the creative sector directly employing over 11,000 people in the Western Region. The strategy is very timely as 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.”

LookWest.ie

2008 has been the busiest year yet for the LookWest.ie campaign, which forms part of the WDC’s work to attract enterprises and individuals to the region. From January to December, almost 150,000 people have visited the website for information to help them make their decision to move west. This is a 15% increase on 2007 figures.

“An important element to the success of this year’s campaign was the WDC working in partnership with the region’s local authorities to communicate the benefits and advantages of

the region, not just for individuals to move here for employment opportunities, but, even more

importantly for business owners to see the region as a really attractive location for business,”

Ms Buckley concluded.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Gillian Buckley, Western Development Commission, 087 223 6982 or Angela Bane, Bane Mullarkey, 087 286 5217

Ba chóir go mbeadh Réigiún an Iarthair ina Ionad Fuinnimh Idirnáisiúnta agus ag freastal ar riachtanais fhuinnimh oileán iomlán na hÉireann Gá le hinfheistíocht leanúnach in infrastruchtúr chun tacú le fostaíocht agus le fiontar Cuideoidh Forbairt Réigiúnach Chothromaithe leis an ngeilleagar náisiúnta

Ina ráiteas deireadh na bliana a foilsíodh inniu, Dé Luain 22ú Nollaig 2008, deir Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair (WDC) gur chóir go mbeadh Réigiún an Iarthair mar Ionad Fuinnimh Idirnáisiúnta a bheadh in ann freastal ar riachtanais fhuinnimh oileán iomlán na hÉireann agus níos faide.

Deir Gillian Buckley CEO gur aithin an WDC i mbliana an poitéinseal atá ann d’acmhainní nádúrtha Réigiún an Iarthair, fuinneamh na mara, na gaoithe agus fuinneamh adhmaid. Deir sí gur léirigh an taighde atá déanta go soláthraíonn na hearnálacha sin deiseanna iontacha. Deir sí dá ndéanfaí acmhainní fuinnimh inathnuaite Réigiún an Iarthair a fhorbairt an méid agus is féidir go mbeadh soláthar fuinnimh cinnte ag an tír. Athrú iomlán scéala a bheadh anseo ar an gcás reatha agus Éire ar cheann de na tíortha is mó a bhíonn ag brath faoi láthair ar bhreosla iontaise iompórtáilte 90%.

Deir sí freisin go bhfuil buntáistí ar leith ag Réigiún an Iarthair toisc é a bheith suite ar an gcósta agus nach bhfuil na hacmhainní nádúrtha agus na buntáistí sin sna réigiúin eile in Éirinn. Sin ceann de na gnéithe a chuireann Réigiún an Iarthair chun tosaigh, agus ba chóir don réigiún leas a bhaint as ar mhaithe leis an réigiún féin agus an náisiún iomlán freisin.

Tá an WDC tar éis infheistíocht phoiblí agus phríobháideach araon a lorg chun go mbeidh ar chumas an réigiúin leas a bhaint as na buntáistí uathúla nádúrtha atá ann. Deir an WDC go bhféadfaidh an réigiún na teicneolaíochtaí chun leas a bhaint as an bhfuinneamh a fhorbairt agus a mhonarú sa bhreis ar an bhfuinneamh inathnuaite féin a chruthú. Cruthóidh sé sin

deiseanna fostaíochta chun dul i ngleic leis an laghdú le déanaí i ngach earnáil, go háirithe san earnáil tógála agus déantúsaíochta.

Mhínigh Buckley Uasal go bhfuil Éire ar an dara tír is fearr san Eoraip a bhfuil acmhainn fuinnimh gaoithe ann agus go bhfuil formhór na suímh chumhachta gaoithe is fearr suite sna contaetha san iarthar. Deir sí go bhfuil an poitéinseal ag fuinneamh na dtonn agus na mara amach ó chósta an iarthair Éire a chruthú mar easpórtálaí fuinnimh agus go soláthraíonn an bhithmhais adhmaid deiseanna suntasacha freisin toisc go bhfuil 40% de thalamh foraoise na tíre sa réigiún.

Deir sí freisin go bhfuil straitéis réigiúnach forbartha ag an WDC chun an earnáil bithmhaise adhmaid a fhorbairt agus go bhfuil sé i gceist ag an WDC an straitéis a fheidhmiú i gcomhar le comhpháirtithe stáit agus príobháideacha i 2009. Cruthófar 900 jab má dhéantar an earnáil sin a fhorbairt, agus beidh formhór acu sin i gceantair thuaithe. Beidh laghdú 600,000 tonna ar astuithe CO2 agus is ionann sin agus 92,000 carr a bhaint de na bóithre. Is sampla maith é forbairt na straitéise sin de chur chuige comhoibritheach WDC maidir le forbairt réigiúnach chomhordaithe.

Forbairt Réigiúnach Chothromaithe

Deir Buckley Uasal gur léirigh comhdháil an WDC ar Fhorbairt Réigiúnach Chothromaithe i mí na Bealtaine do dhéantóirí polasaí sinsearacha, lucht acadúla agus ceannairí gnó agus réigiúnacha na saincheisteanna atá i gceist chun forbairt réigiúnach chothromaithe a sheachadadh. Chualathas ag an gcomhdháil go bhfuil an poitéinseal ag Réigiún an Iarthair cur leis an ngeilleagar náisiúnta agus tá sé sin ag teacht le polasaí an Rialtais mar atá leagtha amach sa Straitéis Spáis Náisiúnta agus sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus sa bhreis air sin dá ndéanfaí an infheistíocht cheart go bhféadfaí an réigiún a fhorbairt mar cheann de na réigiúin is mó a bheadh chun cinn ar domhan le deiseanna fostaíochta ardcháilíochta. Deir an WDC freisin, i measc tíortha OECD, go bhfuil réigiúin, anchosúil le Réigiún an Iarthair, aitheanta anois mar lárionaid d’fhorbairt eacnamaíoch.

Gá le fócas leanúnach ar réigiún an iarthair

Ba é an fáth a bunaíodh an WDC an chéad lá riamh sa bhliain 1997 ná toisc go raibh brú poiblí agus imní ollmhór ann maidir leis an tréimhse fhada de mhaolú eacnamaíoch agus sóisialta i gcontaetha an iarthair. Deir Buckley Uasal cé go bhfuil dul chun cinn leanúnach déanta sa réigiún le deich mbliana anuas go leanann an éagothromaíocht idir Réigiún an Iarthair agus réigiúin eile i gcónaí agus go bhfuil fócas leanúnach ar an réigiún riachtanach i gcónaí.

Deir sí go ndearna an WDC taighde go luath sa bhliain 2008 a léirigh gur chreid 43% de na daoine a ghlac páirt i suirbhé as Mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath gur amhlaidh gur leathnaigh

an bearna eacnamaíochta idir an tOirthear agus an tIarthar le cúig bliana anuas, agus mar sin go bhfuil obair an WDC chomh tábhachtach céanna anois agus a bhí nuair a bunaíodh é.

Tá an WDC ag obair i dtimpeallacht eacnamaíoch atá fíordheacair i láthair na huaire. Léiríonn figiúirí ón bPríomhOifig Staidrimh maidir le Réigiún an Iarthair go bhfuil ardú 65% ar an líon daoine dífhostaithe sa tréimhse 12 mí go dtí mí na Samhna 2008. Riamh anall, bhí an earnáil tógála níos tábhachtaí ó thaobh fostaíochta i Réigiún an Iarthair ná sa chuid eile den Stát, agus mar sin is amhlaidh go gcruthaíonn an meath san earnáil sin dúshlán ollmhór, go háirithe maidir le ceantair thuaithe. Deir sí go bhfuil obair an WDC níos tábhachtaí anois ná riamh cheana ó thaobh forbairt eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta a chur chun cinn.

Chuir sise béim freisin ar an ngá atá le hinfheistíocht leanúnach in infrastruchtúr, agus deir sí go néascóidh infheistíocht den sórt sin chun daoine agus earraí a bhogadh, rud atá riachtanach chun tacú le poist agus le fiontar. Bheadh impleachtaí dearfacha ollmhóra freisin aige ar éifeachtacht ó thaobh costais Réigiún an Iarthair agus chuideodh sin lena chinntiú go mairfeadh na fiontair atá lonnaithe faoi láthair sa réigiún agus go mbeadh feabhas ar tharraingteacht an réigiúin chun infheistíocht a mhealladh isteach.

Síolchaipitil do chuideachtaí ardfháis luathchéime

Deir Buckley Uasal go leanann Ciste Infheistíochta an WDC ag comhlíonadh sainról, ag maoiniú gnólachtaí, tionscnaimh pobail agus tionscadail ‘suaitheanta’ sa réigiún trí shíolchaipitil agus caipiteal fiontair nó iasachtaí a sholáthar do thionscadail inbhuanaithe a bhfuil deacrachtaí maoinithe acu i láthair na huaire.

Deir sí go mbítear ag lorg aischur airgeadais ar a gcuid infheistíochtaí go léir mar aon le díbhinn shóisialta, mar shampla caighdeán saol a fheabhsú agus fostaíocht a sholáthar. Tá maoiniú caipitil riosca riachtanach má táthar chun fiontair geilleagair faisnéise a fhorbairt i Réigiún an Iarthair. Go dtí seo, thacaigh Ciste Infheistíochta an WDC le 80 fiontar ina bhfuil os cionn 1,200 duine fostaithe sa réigiún agus tá sé fós mar fhoinse riachtanach caipitil do chuideachtaí luathchéime ardfháis.

Earnáil Chruthaitheach

Tá ár dtírdhreach, an caighdeán saoil ann agus ár noidhreacht mar fhachtóirí ar leith de chuid Réigiún an Iarthair. Is amhlaidh go dtugann siad buntáiste iomaíoch chun an tIarthar a bhunú mar Réigiún Cruthaitheach chun tallann den scoth a mhealladh, nuálacht agus fiontar sa gheilleagar níos leithne a chruthú agus tacú le turasóireacht. Tá an WDC ag cur straitéis le chéile do gheilleagar cruthaitheach an réigiúin i gcomhar le gnólachtaí réigiúnacha agus grúpa comhairleach tionscail ardleibhéil. Áirítear ar na fiontair san earnáil geilleagair chruthaitheach, ailtireacht, ealaín, ceirdeanna, dearadh, scannán, bogearraí, ceol, na healaíona taibhiúcháin, teilifís agus raidió. Léiríonn taighde an WDC go bhfuil 4,700 fiontar san earnáil chruthaitheach cheana féin agus go bhfuil os cionn 11,000 duine fostaithe ann i

Réigiún an Iarthair. Tá an straitéis antráthúil toisc gurb í 2009 Bliain na hEorpa do Chruthaitheacht agus Nuálacht.

LookWest.ie

Bhí 2008 ar an mbliain ba ghnóthaí fós don fheachtas LookWest.ie, feachtas atá mar chuid d’obair an WDC chun fiontair agus daoine aonair a mhealladh chuig an réigiún. Ó mhí Eanáir go dtí mí na Nollag, thug beagnach 150,000 duine cuairt ar an láithreán gréasáin agus iad ag cuardach eolais chun cuidiú leo a nintinn a dhéanamh suas bogadh go dtí an iarthar. Sin ardú 15% ar fhigiúirí 2007.

Deir Buckley Uasal ar deireadh gur gné thábhachtach de mar a d’éirigh le feachtas na bliana seo an WDC a bheith ag obair i gcomhar le húdaráis áitiúla an réigiúin chun buntáistí agus sochair an réigiúin a chur in iúl, ní hamháin do dhaoine aonair chun bogadh anseo ar mhaithe le deiseanna fostaíochta, ach níos tábhachtaí fós d’úinéirí gnó chun an réigiún a fheiceáil mar áit mhealltach do ghnó.