A new "Atlantic economic corridor" which could replicate the success of the greater Dublin area on the south and west coast is being held back by the State's reluctance to invest in regional transport and communications, a number of speakers claimed at a conference in Shannon, Co Clare yesterday.
At the launch of "Atlantic Gateways" a new forum to consider development issues for the cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford, speakers said economic development was suffering from the State's "investment focus" along radial links emanating from Dublin.
The conference heard high technology and research companies operating on the west coast had already combined to form an "Atlantic technology corridor". With the addition of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry in Cork, the term "Atlantic arc" had been coined. In addition, collaboration between universities on the west coast and in the United States has led to the creation of an "Atlantic university alliance".
Despite the self-starting approach however, the State had failed to deliver on the regions share of transport and communications links, according to a number of speakers.
Prof Michael Cuddy, of the National University of Ireland, Galway, said the only economic corridor of sufficient weight currently operating in Ireland was the Dublin to Belfast economic corridor, which was "sucking in" resources and human capital to the detriment of other regions.
Prof Cuddy said direct road links between Galway and Cork and Galway and Waterford had been advocated by economists at least since the early 1990s but they "never went anywhere".
Prof Gerry Boyle, of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, said development of the Atlantic gateway cities should not be seen as a rival to the development of the greater Dublin area but could ease congestion in Dublin while developing a "new economic space in a win- win situation for the country".
But Prof Boyle agreed with other speakers that public capital investment in transport particularly roads, and communications particularly broadband, needed to be led by Government.
Development would also involve the private sector, but new administrative structures should be set up even with the ability of regions to raise their own taxes.
While he said he realised this idea might not be currently acceptable to the Department of Finance, he maintained that what he was suggesting was not State subsidies for the regions, but State investment in additional economic output.
Mr Ciaran Lynch, of the Tipperary Institute - organisers of yesterday's launch - said a review "or rebalancing" of public sector investment was crucial.
Mr Lynch said investment had, in the past, operated a "tremendously radial system, a cobweb around the greater Dublin area" and changing that would "ultimately be a political decision".
Mr Oliver Daniels, a private sector technology expert and an adviser to the Atlantic technology corridor, said US investors constantly referred to "that dog track" , the road between Shannon and Galway and concluded as an industry in the region "we ain't getting a fair share".
Mr Daniels said names such as Atlantic corridor or arc were potentially confusing. Industry had led the development of the alliance between industry, development agencies and universities but was still being let down by access to the region.
He argued that many schools which attempted to promote Internet use were hampered by a lack of broadband access. "They have 30 children and one telephone line," he said.