The four new growth gateways in the National Spatial Strategy are located in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region. The gateways are Letterkenny, Sligo, Dundalk and a fourth three-centred gateway based in Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore.
In addition, four of the new growth "hubs" - Monaghan, Cavan, Ballina/Castlebar and Tuam - are in the BMW region, while Tralee/ Killarney, Ennis and Mallow, while outside the BMW region, are also located in the western part of the State.
The hubs are designed to counterbalance the growth of the greater Dublin region which now encompasses much of the east coast and east midlands.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, said the plan was "clearly biased, correctly so in my view, towards the BMW region". The object of the exercise was to get growth which would deliver a more balanced spread of economic activity throughout the State.
With the designation of the three towns in the midlands - Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore - it is hoped to create between them a critical mass of population with educational and leisure facilities which would support investment in jobs and a self-sustaining housing and public transport strategy.
The designation of Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick/Shannon and Cork as gateways is an attempt to create an alternative "economic corridor" in the west to counterbalance development along the east coast.
Within the emphasis on the BMW region, there is a significant North-South aspect with a ribbon of the new economic economic hubs and gateways planned along the Border.
Key transport links are also identified between the Republic and air and sea ports at Belfast and Derry. This reflects the fact that the strategy was prepared in line with the Northern Ireland spatial development strategy Shaping of Future and reflects the input of key personnel from the Northern Ireland Civil Service who sat on an advisory panel for the Republic's plan.
The key gateways at Dundalk and Letterkenny, supported by growth hubs at Monaghan and Cavan together with the nearby gateway at Sligo, will encourage cross-Border trade with Newry, Armagh, Enniskillen and Derry in Northern Ireland.
Derry, for example, has now been identified North and South as a regional city for the north-west including its natural hinterland of Donegal.
In the east, the strategy notes increasing economic activity and competitiveness between Belfast and Dublin, with the "economic corridor" between them giving rise to a "growth pole" of European significance.
The designation of Dundalk another Border town, will facilitate economic development between Dundalk and Newry, but will also strengthen the economic corridor and other towns such as Drogheda along the route.
Belfast and Dublin are linked by the island's premier rail service and a full motorway will shortly link Whitehall, in north Co Dublin, with the Border, which can only enhance competitiveness and mutual economic development.
BMW director, Mr Gerry Finn, emphasised that the strategy was "not about winners and losers". It had always been known that the strategy would attempt balanced regional development "and if you want to balance it between the prosperous southern and eastern region and the Border, midlands and western regions, it is not surprising the gateways are where they are".
