Madam, - The publication of the strategic rail review by the Department of Transport highlights the impossibility of realising the dream enunciated in the National Spatial Strategy. In case we forget that dream, the review has the cheek to remind us: "Through a closer matching of where people live with where they work, different parts of Ireland will, in future be able to sustain a better quality of life, a strong, competitive economic position, and an environment of the highest quality."
The spatial strategy identified four new gateways through which this dream would be realised: Dundalk, Sligo, Letterkenny/Derry and Athlone/Tullamore/Mullingar. Even more ambitiously it went on to list a further nine towns which would act as hubs, thereby ensuring that all regions of the country would benefit from balanced regional development. It also clearly identified a range of transport corridors essential to achieving its aims. Most of these, including the full Western corridor, are now discarded. In effect this review consigns the National Spatial Strategy to the bin.
Your Editorial of April 4th says the neglected areas of the West, Border, and Midlands will just have to wait for further rail investment. As history shows, they do not wait. Instead they emigrate, migrate, or commute to Dublin. - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS BOLAND,
Irish Rural Link,
Moate,
Co Westmeath.