Research identifies €9bn need for region in NDP

There is a need for a minimum €9bn in capital investment for this region’s transport, energy, education, water, and climate infrastructure, research carried out by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) has identified.

The region includes counties Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim.

As a public body charged with formulating regional policy, the NWRA advocates for greater economic development in this area.

NWRA economist, John Daly, said: "Despite Ireland being regarded as one of the wealthiest economies in the EU, the Northern and Western Region of Ireland’s transport infrastructure ranked in the bottom 20 at 218th out of 234 regions according to the European Commission’s Regional Competitiveness Index.”

NWRA’s latest report looks at initiatives designed to address significant infrastructure deficits, unlock economic potential and advance climate resilience in Ireland’s most under-funded region.

The publication of the report coincides with the public consultation on the revised National Development Plan (NDP), which remains open until June 26, 2025. The NDP is the Government’s long-term vision and investment strategy for national infrastructure and public services, a crucial component of Project Ireland 2040.

Among the key projects proposed are phases two and three of the Western Rail Corridor (€400–600 million), strategic grid enhancement projects by EirGrid (€1.3 billion) and investments at Ireland West Airport Knock.

The NWRA developed the report following extensive consultation with all nine local authorities in the region, along with key infrastructure agencies including Transport Infrastructure Ireland, EirGrid, Uisce Éireann, and Atlantic Technological University.

The full report, which can be viewed online, will be transposed into a submission from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly on the review of the National Development Plan (NDP).