Brendan Smith urges targeted NESC study for border region
Brendan Smith called for a specific NESC study into the challenges facing the border region, emphasising the needs of the central border area. He warned that Brexit and Covid will particularly harm border areas dependent on agri-food, engineering and construction and urged detailed planning on infrastructure and regional development.
Request for targeted NESC study
He repeated a request that NESC, commissioned by the Shared Island Unit, undertake a dedicated study into the particular challenges facing the border region north and south, with special attention to the central border area.
Economic risks identified
He said Brexit will adversely impact areas such as Cavern, Monaghan and Fermanagh, where the economy is very dependent on agri-food, engineering and construction sectors that export to Britain. He also cautioned that Covid will have a longer-term effect on small-scale enterprises that are the backbone of rural economies.
Regional strengths and infrastructure needs
He argued that strengths, opportunities and potential must be part of planning alongside difficulties, noting the Dublin-Belfast corridor will largely look after itself. He pointed to significant development since the Good Friday Agreement and to existing social, voluntary and education infrastructure in areas such as Cavern, Fermanagh and neighbouring counties of Fermanagh, Torona and Armagh, while stressing the need for proper infrastructure planning to cater for growth.
NESC work and next steps
The transcript records that NESC is applying a shared island lens across economy, regional development, poverty, mental health, social enterprise, climate, biodiversity and environment, and is conducting cross-sectoral work on sustainability and connectivity. NESC will be asked to conduct further work next year to inform the shared island initiative, and consideration will be given to what additional border-region work might usefully follow from its recommendations.
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Last July I referred, at question time, to the work commissioned from the NESC by the Shared Island Unit of your department across all areas of possible cooperation on a north, south and all Ireland basis. That comprehensive research project is to be welcomed. In that context, I requested that a specific study be undertaken by the NESC in relation to the particular challenges facing the border region, both north and south. Again, I emphasise that the needs of the central border area need particular attention. Brexit, unfortunately, will impact adversely on areas such as Cavern, Monaghan and Fermanagh, where our economy is very dependent on the agri-food, engineering and construction product sectors. In turn, those sectors are very dependent on Britain as an export destination. Covid will also impact in the long term more severely on small-scale enterprises that are the backbone of a rural economy. As well as the challenges, I believe our strengths in the border region need to be considered in the context of forward planning. Let us face the reality that Dublin-Belfast corridor will be more than capable of looking after itself, so it is in the areas that have less advantages that we need the particular focus. The strengths, the opportunities and the potential of the region, not just the difficulties, need to be part of a detailed analysis in planning the further development of the all-Ireland economy and the cross-border economy. Without sloganeering, thankfully, there has been a huge development of the all-Ireland economy since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. We have a huge infrastructure in the social and voluntary sector and education in areas such as Cavern, Fermanagh and our neighbouring counties of Fermanagh, Torona and Armagh as well. We can cater for a growth in population, but we need a proper planning in regard to the infrastructure needs of the region as well as using the potential of the region as well. Thank you. I can call that Deputy Mayor James Cormoran. Deputy Mayor M becky Smith in terms of the border area. Nesq's work on the Shared Island is informed with broad consultation with stakeholders north and south. The research has put a considerable focus on the circumstances of the border regions and on the potential to deepen beneficial cooperation on a cross-border regional basis and right across the island in a range of economic, social and environmental domains. NESC are bringing a shared island lens to issues including the economy, regional development, tackling poverty, mental health, social enterprise and climate, biodiversity and environment. They are also conducting a cross-sectoral examination of issues relating to sustainability and connectivity on the island. NESC will be asked to conduct work next year to further inform the development of our shared island initiative. I will ask that there is consideration, in light of the conclusions and recommendations of the forthcoming report, to what more work could usefully be undertaken in terms of border regions and what forms that might take.
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