Ireland should be zoned into two distinct economic regions following the reduction in EU structural funding between 2000 and 2006, the chairman of the European Movement, Mr Alan Dukes TD, said last night.
According to Mr Dukes, the two zones should be: the disadvantaged west, Border counties and southern areas; and the eastern seaboard.
"There are now strong arguments for distinguishing between the more prosperous eastern parts of Ireland and the western part, to put a greater focus on the development needs of the west", he said.
Addressing a European Movement meeting in Cork, Mr Dukes warned that structural fund payments to Ireland would drop to just 20 per cent of current levels by 2006, with the most dramatic fall-off occurring after 2003.
The Green Party's finance spokesman, Mr Dan Boyle, criticised the policy of spending money on roads to the detriment of public transport. He also urged the Government to adopt a "region-led structural funds approach", particularly for the south and south-west.