‘Continued public investment in transport infrastructure will deliver for the region and sustain jobs’ WDC tells Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport’

Quality transport infrastructure critical to competitiveness and maintaining employment

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has stressed the need for continued public investment in the West’s transport infrastructure to secure competitiveness and maintain employment in western counties. The Commission was speaking after making a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport on September 24th .

“Despite the current economic downturn, the planned investment in transport in the Western Region should not be postponed, as any delay would be a threat to the region’s competitiveness and growth,” said Dr Patricia O’Hara, Policy Manager at the WDC.

“Quality roads are critical to maintaining competitiveness and employment. We know from our research that poor roads increase costs, lower productivity, and reduce labour market mobility and flexibility. Road projects such as the Atlantic Corridor, which will run from Letterkenny to Waterford via Sligo, Tuam and Ennis are essential for the region’s competiveness and we are concerned about the fact that there are no timelines assigned to parts of that route north of Galway city,” Dr O’Hara added.

Speaking about the Western Rail Corridor, Dr O’Hara said: “We know that there is demand for improved rail services in the west. When Iarnród Éireann increased frequency and capacity on the GalwayDublin route, the number of people using it increased by 9% to 1.6 million in 2007. Passenger numbers using the rail services from Ennis to Limerick, which is part of the Western Rail Corridor, have exceeded all expectations. These examples illustrate that if you provide the services the passengers will follow.”

The Athenry to Ennis and the Galway to Athenry services are on schedule for 2009 with new stations planned at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell and Oranmore. “We understand

that in early 2009, once the Ennis to Athenry section is completed, work will begin on the Tuam to Athenry section which is due to open in 2011. The line from Tuam to Claremorris is scheduled for 2014, while the line from Claremorris to Collooney is to be preserved for future use,” Dr O’Hara added.

The WDC told the Oireachtas Committee that the Western Rail Corridor will enhance the towns on the route, nearly all of which, in the last Census showed population growth significantly above the national average. It will also be a really valuable resource for tourism in the region. The Committee was also told how the success of the section from Galway to Limerick will be critical to ensuring continued support for reinstatement of the rest of the line. A wellpromoted quality service involving short journey times, good frequency, a competitive fare structure and comfort will be required to change the habits of a generation who have never had the opportunity to use this rail service.

The WDC outlined how Irish registered goods vehicles now transport almost 315 million tonnes of goods by road an increase of 203% in ten years. However, the largest rail freight traffic movements in the country come from Mayo, where 900 trains every year transport goods to Waterford Port, removing over 16,000 truckloads off the roads and bringing major benefits to Mayo businesses. Ireland needs to reduce road congestion and carbon emissions, so consideration should be given to subsidising rail freight as is the case in many other European countries. In its presentation, the WDC cited an example in Scotland where a capital grant of £3 million for rail freight has now been credited with saving the Scottish Government £1.4 million per annum in carbon taxes and other costs. Benefits associated with rail freight include reduced carbon emissions, less road congestion and fewer injuries and loss of life.

The WDC also stressed the importance of international air access in supporting the regions’ enterprise and tourism sectors. In particular, improved road and rail links are required to provide predictable journey times and extend the airports’ catchments so that they can play their full role in economic development. For this reason, it is critical that the interurban GalwayEnnis road is completed by 2010 as promised, according to the WDC. There is also a need to improve tourism promotion, to maximise the opportunities from existing international routes into Ireland West Airport Knock.

Dr O’Hara said; “An important objective of the WDC is to advance the Government’s policy of balanced regional development by providing a regional perspective on national policy. Having the opportunity to speak directly to the Joint Oireachtas Committee was a welcome opportunity to do that.”

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96% of those who have relocated would recommend the move

The results of the fourth annual Collins McNicholas re-location survey released today (Tuesday 16th September) shows that 96% of professionals who recently relocated to the West, North West or Midlands regions would recommend such a move to others. Collins McNicholas is one of Ireland’s leading recruitment and HR consultancy companies with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo and Athlone.

MAIN FINDINGS

• Overall, 96% of respondents would recommend relocating to the regions.
• 85% of people’s work-life balance improved since they relocated.
• 86% of respondents now commute to and from work in less than 40 minutes.
• 74% of respondents received an increase or similar remuneration package when they relocated.
• 65% of respondents said lower property prices were a factor in their decision to relocate.
• 84 % of respondents were educated to Degree level or higher.
• 49% of professionals surveyed relocated from outside of Ireland.
• A more relaxed atmosphere, safer environment and less traffic were the top three attractions expressed by people surveyed subsequent to relocating.
• The four main concerns of respondents about relocating, before they moved, were employment opportunities (67%), salary expectations (55%), house prices (45%) and cost of living (42%).
• Medical Devices (17%), Pharmaceutical (16%), Manufacturing (14%) and Engineering (13%) were the most popular sectors of employment for those who relocated.

The survey was completed by professionals from different sectors including pharmaceutical, medical devices, financial services and professional services and investigated the various factors that were considered before relocating to the regions including property prices, commuting times, salary and proximity to family and friends. Whilst 38% of respondents were attracted by lower cost of living and 34% by lower property prices a further 34% stated that they were attracted to the area because of its proximity to the coast and countryside as well as the number of outdoor activities and amenities available.

Other findings of the survey include:

• Of the people surveyed 17% found jobs in the Medical Devices sector, 16% in Pharmaceutical, 14% in Manufacturing and 13% in Engineering.
• ICT employed 10% of the people surveyed and 16% in Accountancy.
• 85% of respondents stated that their work life balance had improved and more leisure time, friendlier people and an overall more relaxed atmosphere since relocating were also seen as attractions.
• Less commuting times were considered a major pull factor in the decision to relocate and the vast majority of respondents commuted to work in less than 20 minutes since relocating.
• 28% purchased property since relocating and 18% are considering it.

The recent influx of a talented workforce to the area has had a significant impact on the amount and quality of employment available in the area. Commenting on the findings of the survey, Mr Niall Murray, Regional Manager of Collins McNicholas Sligo said “The results of this survey clearly show that there is an ever growing interest amongst professionals in Ireland in relocating to the regions. The better quality of life and lower costs of living are major factors in an increasing number of people making the decision to move. Despite tougher economic times, there continues to be excellent employment opportunities available to people across the regions and we are eager to give a positive message to job seekers that many companies are continuing to hire people”.

Reinforcing the positive message was Gillian Buckley, CEO of the Western Development Commission that runs the LookWest.ie (www.lookwest.ie) campaign to attract people and enterprise to the region, “Our own research shows that there are a significant number of jobs available in the Western Region. In fact, at this year’s LookWest.ie Expo, to be held this Thursday (September 18th) in Dublin, we have more than 300 top quality jobs waiting to be filled, and that’s in spite of the current climate, as industries such as life sciences, engineering, financial services and IT continue to look for skilled, experienced staff.”

The survey, in its fourth year, looks at the motivations and experiences of a cross section of one hundred and fifty professionals who relocated to the West, North West and Midlands regions in 2008. The objective of the survey is to provide a unique insight into the motivations behind the increasing number of highly skilled professionals relocating to these regions. The survey was completed by professionals from various sectors including pharmaceutical, medical devices, financial services and professional services and investigated the various factors that were considered before relocating; including property prices, commuting times, salary and proximity to family and friends.

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For further information please contact:

Shirley Kiernan, Marketing & PR Manager, Collins McNicholas, 087 4140163 Gillian Buckley, CEO, Western Development Commission, 087 2236982

Notes to Editors: About Collins McNicholas

Collins McNicholas was established in 1990 and with five offices nationwide is one of the few longstanding Recruitment and HR Services organisations in Ireland. The company is the first recruitment organisation in Ireland to achieve ‘Excellence through People’ certification in all of their offices.

Western Development Commission (WDC)

The WDC is a statutory body promoting economic and social development in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare.

The WDC’s 5 strategic aims are to:

• Contribute to balanced regional development by ensuring that the Western Region maximises its full potential for economic and social development.
• Promote the benefits of living, working and doing business in the Western Region.
• Support the sustainable economic and social development of the rural economy.
• Provide risk capital to SME’s and social enterprises.
• Operate the WDC as a competent and effective organisation.

For further information visit www.wdc.ie

Spreagann Taispeántas LookWest.ie fiontair chun breathnú ar an Iarthar mar shuíomh gnó

Beidh sa bhreis ar 300 post á dtairiscint ag Taispeántas LookWest.ie de chuid Choimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair (WDC), a bheidh á reáchtáil in Óstán Alexander, Baile Átha Cliath ar an 18ú Meán Fómhair. Beidh spéis san imeacht ag daoine a dteastaíonn uathu bogadh ó mhórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath chun maireachtáil, oibriú agus gnó a dhéanamh i réigiún an Iarthair (Dún na nGall, Liatroim, Sligeach, Maigh Eo, Gaillimh, Ros Comáin agus an Clár). Tharraing imeacht na bliana seo caite sa bhreis ar 500 cuairteoir, le spéis acu uile in oibriú agus maireachtáil san Iarthar. I mbliana, leagfar béim láidir ar na tairbhí a bhaineann le gnó a thosú i réigiún an Iarthair nó a leathnú chuig réigiún an Iarthair; beidh seimineár ar na tacaí ar fáil, le cois cásstaidéir chuideachtaí atá ag feidhmiú go rathúil san Iarthar.

Agus í ag labhairt faoi Thaispeántas LookWest.ie Bhaile Átha Cliath, dúirt Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin an WDC, Gillian Buckley, “Ó sheolamar feachtas LookWest.ie i mí na Samhna 2004 tá níos mó ná 350,000 cuairt tugtha ar láithreán gréasáin LookWest.ie www.lookwest.ie. Rinneamar an lucht a chláraigh linn a rianú go leanúnach agus tá a fhios againn go bhfuil níos mó ná 50% díobh idir 26 agus 35, go bhfuil cáilíochtaí tríú leibhéal ag 92% díobh, go bhfuil sa bhreis ar chúig bliana de thaithí oibre ag trí cheathrú díobh, agus an rud is tábhachtaí, go dteastaíonn uathu bogadh chuig an Iarthar. Is féidir linn an taighde seo a thaispeáint do chuideachtaí nua agus ag leathnú atá ag smaoineamh ar bhogadh go réigiún an Iarthair, chun a léiriú go bhfuil lucht oibre ullmhaithe, toilteanach, cumasach againn dóibh.”

“I mbliana, táimid ag leagan béime ar leith ar fhiontraíocht agus is féidir linn a thaispeáint do chuideachtaí agus do fhiontraithe gur suíomh rathúil, costéifeachtúil don ghnó é an tIarthar ina bhfuil spás gnó ar chostas níos ísle, turais choimaitéireachta níos giorra, agus baill foirne anspreagtha, sároilte. Ag an am céanna, de réir tuairiscí, bíonn láimhdeachas foirne i bhfad níos ísle san Iarthar agus baineann an fhoireann agus úinéirí gnó araon tairbhe as

cáilíocht ard na beatha. Tá feabhas á chur ar an mbonneagar agus ar sheirbhísí i gcónaí, agus le bealaí nua curtha ar fáil ag aerlínte cosúil le hAer Árann, féadann cuideachtaí gnó a dhéanamh ar fud an domhain óna mbunáit in Iarthar na hÉireann.”

“Beidh ár gcomhpháirtithe ó na hÚdaráis Áitiúla, na Boird Fiontar Contae, Fiontraíocht Éireann, FÁS, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Forbairt Shionainne agus gníomhaireachtaí eile ag an Taispeántas chun fiontraithe a chur ar an eolas faoi conas is féidir leis na gníomhaireachtaí sin cabhrú le haon duine atá ag smaoineamh ar ghnó a bhunú san Iarthar nó gnó a bhogadh go dtí an tIarthar.”

“Tá an WDC, na cuideachtaí atá ag déanamh earcaíochta agus na gníomhaireachtaí tacaíochta stáit eile ag tnúth go mór le bualadh le duine le suim acu bogadh go dtí an tIarthar agus freagraí a thabhairt ar a gceisteanna faoi cháilíocht ard na beatha, na bpost agus na ndeiseanna gnó i Réigiún an Iarthair. Beidh an Taispeántas, a bheidh ar siúl ar Déardaoin, an 18ú Meán Fómhair in Óstán Alexander, Cearnóg Mhuirfean, Baile Átha Cliath 2, ag tosú ag meán lae agus beidh sé ar siúl ar feadh an lae go dtí a 9i.n. chun deis a thabhairt do dhaoine atá ag an obair freastal air. Tá sé oscailte do dhaoine aonair agus do chuideachtaí, agus tá sé saor in aisce, gan amhras. Féadann fostaithe féideartha bualadh le hionadaithe cuideachtaí ilnáisiúnta bunaithe san Iarthar cosúil le Abbott Ireland, Bank of America, BDO Simpson Xavier, IBM Ireland, Lionbridge, Tiscali agus Valeo Vision Systems agus féadann siad eolas a fháil faoi dheiseanna fostaíochta le cuideachtaí dúchasacha Éireannacha freisin, cosúil le PEL Recycling Equipment, AVA Systems agus Computer Troubleshooters Ireland.”

Críoch

Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais:

Bernadette Mullarkey, Bane Mullarkey, 086 8062 540 Gillian Buckley, Príomhoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin an WDC, 087 2236 982 Ian Brannigan, Bainisteoir Forbartha an WDC, 086 604 8012

Cineálacha poist ar fáil: Comhairleoirí Gnó, Foireann Lónadóireachta agus Fáilteachais, Seirbhísí do Chustaiméirí, Sláinte & Sábháilteacht Comhshaoil, Airgeadas, Acmhainní Daonna, Eolaíochtaí Beatha, Margaíocht, Innealtóirí Próisis, Eolaithe Táirgthe, Teicneoirí Saotharlainne um Rialú Cáilíochta, Innealtóirí Bogearraí Taighde agus Forbartha, Díolacháin, Rialuithe Bogearraí, Bainistíocht Shlabhra an tSoláthair, Ionadaithe Teileamhargaíochta.

Taispeántas LookWestie 2008 Déardaoin, 18ú Meán Fómhair, 2008, Óstán Alexander, Baile Átha Cliath

LookWest.ie Expo encourages enterprises to consider the West as a business location

There are over 300 jobs on offer at the Western Development Commission’s (WDC) LookWest.ie Expo that will be held in the Alexander Hotel, Dublin on the 18th of September. The event will attract people who want to relocate from the Greater Dublin Area to the Western Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Clare) to live, work and do business. Last year’s event attracted over 500 visitors, all of them interested in working and living in the West. This year there will be a strong emphasis on the benefits of starting or expanding a business to the Western Region with a seminar on the supports available and case studies of companies successfully operating in the West.

Commenting on the Dublin LookWest.ie Expo, Gillian Buckley, WDC CEO, said, “Since we launched the LookWest.ie campaign in November 2004 we have had over 350,000 visits to the LookWest.ie website www.lookwest.ie. We have continuously tracked those who have registered with us and we know that over 50% are aged between 26 and 35, 92% have Third Level qualifications, three quarters have over five years work experience, but most importantly, they want to move West. We can show this research to new and expanding companies who are thinking of moving to the Western Region, demonstrating that we have a ready, willing and able workforce for them.”

”This year we are putting a particular emphasis on enterprise and can show companies and entrepreneurs that the West is a thriving, cost effective location for business, with lower cost business space, shorter commuting times, and highly skilled, motivated staff. At the same time staff turnover is reportedly much lower in the West and the high quality of life benefits both staff and business owners. Infrastructure and services are improving all the time, and with new routes from airlines like Aer Arann, companies can do business on the world stage from their West of Ireland base.

“Our partners from the Local Authorities, County Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland, FÁS, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Shannon Development and other agencies will all be at the Expo to tell entrepreneurs how they can help anybody thinking of setting up or relocating a business in the West.”

The WDC, those companies recruiting and the other State support agencies are looking forward to meeting people who are interested in a move West and to answering their questions about the high quality of life, jobs and business opportunities in the Western Region. The Expo, which is on Thursday 18th of September in the Alexander Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2, starts at noon and goes on all day until 9pm to give those at work the chance to attend. It’s open to individuals and companies and of course it’s free. Potential employees can meet with representatives of multinationals based in the West such as Abbott Ireland, Bank of America, BDO Simpson Xavier, IBM Ireland, Lionbridge, Tiscali and Valeo Vision Systems and they can also find out about job opportunities with indigenous Irish companies like PEL Recycling Equipment, AVA Systems and Computer Troubleshooters Ireland.

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For further information:

Conall O Móráin, The Media Group, 087 2463 111 Gillian Buckley, CEO WDC, 087 2236 982 Ian Brannigan, Development Manager WDC, 086 604 8012

Types of jobs on offer: Business Advisors, Catering and Hospitality staff Customer Services, Environmental Health & Safety, Finance, HR, Life Sciences, Marketing, Process Engineers, Production Scientists, Quality Control Lab Technicians, R&D Software Engineers, Sales, Software Controls, Supply Chain Management, Telemarketing Representatives,

LookWest.ie Expo 2008

Thursday 18th September 2008,

Alexander Hotel, Dublin

The Western Development Commission (WDC) is inviting companies based in the Western Region with current and future job vacancies to exhibit at its LookWest.ie Expo on Thursday 18th September in Dublin. The Expo will be attended by people who want to live, work and set up business in the seven counties of the Western Region.

Since the LookWest.ie campaign was launched in 2004, over 350,000 people have visited the website www.lookwest.ie to find out more about moving West. The website attracts an average of over 10,000 visits each month. There has seen a 25% increase in visits in 2008, with more than 78,000 people logging on so far this year and 18,907 site visits in June alone.

According to WDC Development Manager Ian Brannigan “Over 3,000 people have registered their skills on LookWest.ie, many of whom are highly educated with several years experience and skills in sectors including IT, finance, services, engineering and sales and marketing. The Expo is a great opportunity for employers in the region to meet face to face with people who want to live and work in the West and who are looking for job opportunities here, now or in the near future”

Mr. Brannigan continued “Our research shows that there are a significant number of jobs available in the Western Region. In spite of the current climate, many companies still have vacancies to fill and while it’s clear that some sectors are feeling the pinch, other industries such as life sciences, engineering, financial services and IT are looking for skilled, experienced staff. “.

“Many people who are interested in moving to the region are familiar with LookWest.ie and the Expo will be widely advertised and promoted. Our research carried out last year showed that 9% of people in the Greater Dublin Area have a high level of interest in living and working in the West. This represents potentially more than 170,000 people who are key targets for Western companies who are recruiting,” Mr Brannigan said.

The Expo will also cater for those keen to expand or establish their own business in the West, with key information about supports and opportunities for doing business in the Region.

Companies who are interested in presenting their jobs at the September Expo are invited to contact the WDC at 094 986 1441 or by email at lookwest@wdc.ie.

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For further information please contact:

Ian Brannigan, Development Manager, Western Development Commission 086 604 8012.

Tá cuireadh á thabhairt ag Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair do chuideachtaí an Iarthair a bhfuil folúntais acu faoi láthair nó a mbeidh folúntais acu amach anseo seastán a fháil ag an Taispeántas LookWest.ie Déardaoin, an 18 Meán Fómhair i mBaile Átha Cliath. Beidh daoine ar mian leo cónaí, oibriú nó gnó a bhunú i seacht gcontae an Iarthair ag freastal ar an Taispeántas.

Ó seoladh feachtas LookWest.ie in 2004, thug breis agus 350,000 duine cuairt ar an láithreán www.lookwest.ie chun eolas a fháil faoi bhogadh chuig an Iarthar. Tugann 10,000 duine sa mhí cuairt ar an láithreán, ar an meán. Tá méadú 25% tagtha ar líon na gcuairteoirí in 2008. Thug breis agus 78,000 duine cuairt ar an láithreán go dtí seo i mbliana agus 18,907 duine i mí an Mheithimh as féin.

Dúirt Bainisteoir Forbartha an Choimisiúin Ian Brannigan “Chláraigh breis agus 3,000 duine a gcuid scileanna ar LookWest.ie, tá go leor díobh seo oilte agus antaithí acu in earnálacha cosúil le IT, airgeadas, seirbhísí, innealtóireacht agus díolachán agus margaíocht. Is iontach an deis an Taispeántas d’fhostóirí sa réigiún casadh le daoine ar mian leo cónaí agus oibriú san Iarthar agus a mbeadh suim acu i bpost anseo anois nó amach anseo.”

Dúirt an tUasal Brannigan “Léiríonn taighde atá déanta againn go bhfuil líon maith post le fáil san Iarthar. D’ainneoin a bhfuil ag tarlú sa gheilleagar faoi láthair, tá folúntais ag go leor cuideachtaí agus cé go bhfuil sé soiléir go bhfuil an geilleagar ag cur isteach ar earnálacha áirithe, tá tionscail cosúil leis na heolaíochtaí beatha, innealtóireacht, seirbhísí airgeadais agus IT ag cuardach foireann oilte a bhfuil taithí acu. ”

“Tá cur amach ag go leor daoine a mbeadh suim acu bogadh go dtí an tIarthar ar LookWest.ie agus déanfar go leor poiblíochta ar an Taispeántas. Léirigh taighde anuraidh go bhfuil ansuim ag 9% de na daoine i gceantar Bhaile Átha Cliath cónaí agus oibriú san Iarthar. Sin suas le 170,000 duine a mbeadh suim ag cuideachtaí an Iarthair iad a fhostú,” a dúirt an tUasal Brannigan.

Díreoidh an Taispeántas chomh maith ar dhaoine ar mian leo a ngnó a mhéadú nó gnó a bhunú san Iarthar. Tabharfar eolas faoi thacaíocht agus deiseanna atá ar fáil do ghnó sa Réigiún.

Iarrtar ar chuideachtaí ar mian leo poist a fhógairt ag an Taispeántas i Meán Fómhair teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an gCoimisiún ar 094 986 1441 nó ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig lookwest@wdc.ie.

“Grid 25 plans will help drive balanced regional development” -WDC

Mayo industries major beneficiaries of €1 billion plus investment

The Western Development Commission (WDC), the body charged with promoting the development of the Western Region, warmly welcomes Eirgrid’s Grid 25 plan with its major emphasis on balanced regional development.

Commenting on Grid 25, Gillian Buckley, WDC Chief Executive, said, “For the last five years the WDC has been emphasising one of the major assets of the region which is wind energy. According to the Eirgrid plan, the Western Region has about 40% of the entire country’s renewable capacity, making it a key natural resource for the region that can be exploited for the benefit of the people and businesses of the area. It may be fair to say that wind and ocean energy are the Western Region’s own clean sustainable oilfields.

“Grid 25 involves an investment of over €1bn in the western counties’ infrastructure in the period up to 2025 -over a quarter of the total investment by Eirgrid. We have pointed out in a number of our research reports the inadequacy of the existing transmission system both to serve existing needs and to deliver power generated from renewables. This new plan will fundamentally change this situation as it promises major investment to connect power from renewable energy (including ocean power) to the rest of the national grid. But we want to see as much of this clean, renewable ‘local power’ as possible used locally and we hope that its future availability will be highlighted by job creation agencies to attract new industries and jobs to the region, thereby helping achieve the government aim of balanced regional growth.

“The WDC has worked closely with the Mayo Industries Group and IBEC to highlight their concerns about the quality and reliability of the electricity supply in the area. This is about to be addressed in a very serious way with the county earmarked for priority investment that will mean, at a minimum, a 220KV transmission line. As well as facilitating the growth of renewable capacity, this will undoubtedly help sustain and promote industrial investment in the county.”

For further information please contact: Gillian Buckley, WDC CEO, 087 2236 982 Or Conall O Móráin, The Media Group, 087 2463 111

Western Region is attracting the young and entrepreneurs

Anyone who thinks of the Western Region as being behind and not a thriving economy needs a reality check as this outdated view is completely at variance with research undertaken by the Western Development Commission (WDC), according to its Chief Executive, Gillian Buckley.

Commenting on the figures produced in the WDC’s latest publication, The Western Region – Key Statistics, Ms. Buckley said that this snapshot of the region finally laid to rest some of the myths about the West and added that if the Region had the appropriate level of infrastructure required for a modern economy, the region could make a further dramatic economic contribution to the country as a whole.

Ms. Buckley said, “All regions have their good points and some downsides, but this analysis shows that the West is thriving in many ways, particularly if you want to set up or expand a business. Emigration, which had been the scourge of the Western Region, has been completely reversed with the population at work in the region rising 46% in the ten years up to 2006. The Region is holding its own in the creation of knowledge sector jobs; such firms accounted for 49% of all agency assisted jobs in 2006, only just behind the national level of 52%.”

The statistics, which can be downloaded from the Western Development Commission website, www.wdc.ie, also confirm the high educational profile of young people from the region. Figures on rates of admission to higher educational institutions show that all seven western counties are well ahead of the national average of 55%. Sligo, at 72%, tops the list with Galway, Mayo and Leitrim also well above 60%.

Ms. Buckley added: “We want to attract both people and industries to locate in the Western Region and we always ‘sell’ the region on the basis of its attraction in terms of a work/life balance. One of the most striking figures in our report is how little time is spent by people in the region commuting. Over a third of the Region’s workers spend less than a quarter of an hour getting to work, well ahead of the national average and considerably more than those within the Greater Dublin region. As I said, there are downsides, and one of the more startling facts thrown up by the research is that only 2% of those in the Western Region use bus or train to get to work while the national average is four times this figure, which clearly shows the absence of adequate public transport in the region. The other big infrastructural deficit, which again the figures demonstrate starkly, is the absence of broadband. Only 13% of households in the West had broadband in 2006 against a national average of 20%.”

She concluded, “There are 60 pages of statistics on the Region in the booklet, which we hope will be useful to anyone interested in knowing more about how things really are in the Western Region today.”

The Western Development Commission (WDC) will today outline how rural communities can tap into the potential of ecotourism when it addresses the Greenbox All Island Ecotourism Conference.

Gillian Buckley, WDC Chief Executive, will outline the WDC’s experience of developing the Greenbox, Ireland’s only ecotourism destination, and will share ideas with delegates on how communities can use the WDC Model of Rural Development to help develop ecotourism and other innovative projects in their local area.

In her address, Regional Development through Innovative Delivery, Ms Buckley will also look at the policies and practices involved in developing successful tourism products, and will present case studies of where the WDC approach has delivered for rural communities.

Ms Buckley will explain how the WDC’s Model of Rural Development works and can be adopted by local communities. The approach involves a number of stages; bringing stakeholders together; establishing trust by developing a shared framework and strategy for development; building a knowledge base through research and analysis; and producing an action plan including priorities, actions and policy recommendations. It has been published in booklet form and is available from the WDC to anyone with an interest in regional or rural development.

Ms Buckley added, “The success of the Greenbox shows how much can be achieved when public agencies work in partnership with the private sector, community organisations and each other to deliver innovative, regional projects. This collaborative approach can deliver much needed economic benefit to rural areas, increasing enterprise and contributing to balanced regional development. Moreover, regional and national tourism plans now highlight ecotourism’s opportunities and potential and this is a reflection of the Greenbox’s achievements. It shows that a collaborative approach can lead to positive changes in policy.”

Sinéad Ní Mháille, Rural Development Executive at the WDC said “Tourism is very important to the West. 29% of all those employed in tourism are based in the BMW region (72,300 out

of a total of 249,338). Tourism is a major contributor to regional development, with income spent by visitors staying in the local area. Tourism benefits rural areas in particular by creating jobs in locations where other employment can sometimes be difficult to find. By nature it is a truly indigenous sector benefiting the local economy so we focus on improving on this to make it sustainable”.

Gillian Buckley said, “The idea for the Greenbox came about through our work in developing rural tourism products by making the best use of our natural resources, and thereby providing a vehicle for economic delivery to rural areas. In 2002, we worked with the local tourism industry in Leitrim and surrounding counties and the Organic Centre in Rossinver to develop the Greenbox as an integrated ecotourism destination. We consulted with people from the private, public and community sectors, and then we looked at ecotourism abroad to learn of examples where it works really well. The outcome was a framework and action plan to develop the Greenbox.

“Now the Greenbox has a network of 120 local businesses developing to the highest ecotourism standards, and the largest cluster of EU Flower approved accommodation providers on the island of Ireland. €1.4 million has been provided to tourism businesses in the Greenbox network through the capital development programme, and hundreds of tourism providers have received specialist ecotourism training. Work has also been completed on the first ecotourism label standard for tourism products which will give visitors a certified guide to ecotourism products and services,” Ms Buckley concluded.

The Western Development Commission is the lead sponsor of the conference which takes place at The Share Centre, Lisnaskea, Fermanagh on Wednesday 30th January.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Gillian Buckley (087 223 6985) / Sinead Ní Mhaille (086 856 5802) / Ian Brannigan (086 604 8012) WDC, or Angela Bane, Bane Mullarkey, 087 286 5217

41% of people under 35 who live in East would like to move West

43% of people believe economic gap between East and West has widened in the past 5 years

RED C opinion poll for the Western Development Commission

A new opinion poll taken on behalf of the Western Development Commission (WDC), the body charged with the economic and social development of counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare, shows that 36% of those living in the East, when asked, said they would like to live in the West, while an even higher number, 41%, of those under 35 expressed the same wish.

The poll, carried out by RED C, surveyed a representative sample of 400 people in western counties and 400 in Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. The findings revealed that one of the main attractions of living in the Western region was ‘a superior quality of life relative to Dublin’ according to 54% of those in the East and 75% of those living in the West. The poll also shows a dramatic shift in the way Ireland works. Work practices are becoming more flexible, with 41% in West, and 43% in East saying that it is possible to work remotely in their job.

On the negative side, 42% of those in East and 46% of those in West believe the economic gap between East and West has widened in the past 5 years. This is an indication that despite high levels of investment and improvements in infrastructure, the perception remains that the West is falling behind the East.

Commenting on the findings, Gillian Buckley, CEO of the WDC, said, “These results show that a lot of people value the higher quality of life available outside the major urban areas on the East coast. This, of course, is not surprising to us who live in the West, but it underlines the importance of the Government policy of balanced regional development. The things that are holding people back from moving West is a perception that the quality of infrastructure (transport and broadband) is poorer than in the East, while a large number also believe that the type of work they seek is not available in the West.

“Around two thirds of those surveyed in the East believe that the quality and availability of transport is inferior in the West relative to Dublin and this is something that the Government can tackle immediately by ensuring the NDP commitments to the road routes, to and through, the West are delivered. The continuing upgrading of the quality and frequency of train services should mean that a large proportion of the population in the West are a maximum of three hours away from Dublin. The development of commuter rail routes within the region is also vital, as those interviewed in the east say access to public transport is an important factor in deciding where to live.”

Dr. Patricia O’Hara, Policy Manager with the WDC added, “The continuing successful rapid growth of international routes at Ireland West Airport Knock also means that any feeling of isolation on the part of industry wanting to locate in the more northern counties of the region will be dissipated. Given the congestion elsewhere, dynamic regional airports are proving more and more attractive to business and leisure travellers. Broadband continues to be the bug bear right around the country and the sooner that fast, reliable broadband is available, the sooner we’re likely to see population movements away from congested areas. With such a high number of young people willing to move, broadband provision will make it more attractive for these people to establish their own business ensuring the longterm vibrancy of the West.

“The good news is that the access issues are being tackled. The planned fourlane northsouth Atlantic Road Corridor will make an immense difference and the major East to West road routes are being upgraded. Broadband access outside of major centres remains a major issue and we need to see huge improvements so that businesses and individuals who choose to relocate to the

region are not disadvantaged. If we are to achieve balanced regional growth, which will help the Greater Dublin Area as much as those areas outside Dublin, access in all its guises must be THE priority in coming years.

Up to 70% of those asked also were of the opinion that job opportunities were poorer in the West relative to Dublin However, other work we have done in the WDC shows that there are a growing number of top level vacancies in high tech areas such as computer software, medical devices and internationally traded services. We will be raising all of these issues at a national conference on balanced regional development which the WDC will be running in late May.”

The poll was commissioned by the WDC to inform its policy making role and to help make those policies more relevant to encourage balanced regional development across the country.

Notes to editors About the poll

The RED C poll was carried out on behalf of the Western Development Commission (WDC) from the 3rd to 7th December 2007. The research was conducted via telephone among a random representative sample of 800 adults – 400 West and 400 East residents.

The WDC’s 4 strategic aims are:

• Contribute to balanced regional development by ensuring that the Western Region maximises its full potential for economic and social development.
• Promote the benefits of living, working and doing business in the Western Region.
• Support the sustainable economic and social development of the rural economy.
• Provide risk capital to businesses and community enterprises through the WDC Investment Fund

For further information please contact: Gillian Buckley, CEO, Western Development Commission, on 094 986 1441 or 087 2236982

Or Dr. Patricia O’Hara, Policy Manager, WDC, mobile: 087 686 2772 or work 094 986 1441 Or Conall O Móráin, The Media Group, 0872 463 111