CHAPTER 16: THE DYNAMICS OF REGIONS (1) – AN IRISH PERIPHERAL REGION
This low population density prevents economic development across the region because employers prefer to locate where they can find a large labour force. The western region has the largest urban centre (Galway) and the greatest concentration of high-tech industry attracted by the good quality road and air links and by the graduates of UCG and GMIT. The western region was projected to experience a 21.7% growth in population by 2031 due to the availability of jobs in the biotech industry. However economic recession may reduce this estimate. Services are concentrated in the urban centres, e.g. Castlebar, Dundalk and Galway. This will encourage uneven economic growth in the BMW region. Overall the population of the BMWregion is projected to growby 7.8%(over 75,000) by 2031 although it is not known howmuch impact economic recessionwill have on this estimate. The population could decrease due to out-migration of newly unemployed people.
2. Transport infrastructure
Transport infrastructure in the BMW region is underdeveloped. This influences the location of industry in the region and the allocation of government and EU funds for transport development. The NDP had focused on providing better road and rail links to the region and motorway links are now complete between Galway and Dublin aswell asDublin and Belfast. Road access to Sligo has also been upgraded. These improvements will
aid economic
development in the BMW region by reducing transport costs and improving access.
Fig. 6 The poor soils and mountainous relief of the BMW has contributed to a low population density.
Fig. 7 Rail links to the BMW region have been improved but transport infrastructure is still underdeveloped.