Minister backs regions

THE Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, said yesterday there was a need for new thinking on the whole future of…

THE Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, said yesterday there was a need for new thinking on the whole future of regional planning. There had been, he said, a greater realisation that the regions had capacity that was not being fully exploited at present. "In the past, there was the tendency to see and accept so many people migrating to the cities which was not a healthy situation." Mr Bruton was speaking at the publication of a 132-page regional policy report at Bunratty, which was compiled by Shannon Development with assistance from academic leaders in the field from UCD, TCD and St Patrick's College, Maynooth, as well as active support from Forfas executives.