Minutes of Meeting of the National Development Plan Sub-Committee of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly held in the Assembly Headquarters, Ballaghaderreen on Friday 4th July 2008 at 11.00 a.m. Present: Cllr Terry Brennan Cllr Veronica Cawley Cllr Tony Ferguson Cllr Joe Flanagan Cllr Eugene Lavin Cllr Seosamh O’Cuaig Cllr TP Smith Cllr Michael McGreal Mr. Jim Stone Mr. Gary McMahon Mr. Tony Dawson Ms. Pauline White Mr. Matt Donnelly Mr. Seamus Bree Ms. Marie King-McGovern Mr. Tom Daly Cllr Padraig Conneely Cllr Tom Costello Cllr Rena Donaghey Cllr Dessie Larkin Cllr Marian McDonald Cllr Mark Nugent Mr. Aidan O’Donnell Mr. Gerry Crawford Mr. Kevin McCarthy Mr. Seamus O’Grady Prof. Ciaran O Cathain Mr. Joseph Ruane Mr. Peter Carey Mr. Kevin Kidney Mr. Eamon Cusack Mr. Mairtin O’Conghaile Mr. Sean Conroy Mr. John Magee Mr. Mark Holohan Mr. Cathal Gallagher Mr. Gerry Finn Mr. Gerry Lavelle Ms. Pauline Grennan Mr. Gerry Brady BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly Midland Regional Authority Galway City Council Failte Ireland West Western Development Commission Border Regional Authority Enterprise Ireland Bus Eireann HSE – North West Area BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly An Post Border Regional Authority (Cathaoirleach) IDA NUI Galway Athlone IT HSE Midlands Area Midland Regional Authority (Designated Manager) Midlands-East Regional Tourism Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Udaras na Gaeltachta HSE – Western Area Mayo County Development Board Bord Gais Central Fisheries Board BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly BMW Regional Assembly Central Statistics Office
Apologies:
Officials In Attendance:
Also Present:
Cllr Tony Ferguson presided
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Minutes of the Meeting of the NDP Sub Committee held on 25th April 2008 PROPOSED by Mr. Matt Donnelly SECONDED by Ms. Pauline White and RESOLVED “that the minutes of the meeting of the NDP Sub Committee held on 25th April 2008 be ADOPTED.”
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Matters Arising Congratulations were extended to Cllr. Veronica Cawley who was recently elected Mayor of Sligo Borough Council, Cllr. Michael Mc Greal, elected Mayor of Roscommon County Council and also Cllr Padraig Conneely who was elected Mayor of Galway City Council.
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Presentation by Mr. Gerry Brady, Central Statistics Office, on the Regional Quality of Life in Ireland 2008 Cllr Tony Ferguson welcomed Mr. Gerry Brady to the meeting. Mr. Gerry Finn gave an introduction to the recently published report on the “Regional Quality of Life in Ireland 2008”. Mr. Brady informed the members that a copy of the Report was available for anyone who was interested. Mr. Brady’s presentation on Regional Quality of Life in Ireland included the following key points: Regional Quality of Life in Ireland Report Structure Principal Indicators and Population Profile Dependency Ratios 2006 and Males per 100 Females 2006 Housing Issues, including housing vacancy rates 2006 and age of dwellings Lisbon Treaty Lifestyles Transport and Travel Health Care and Medical Cover 2001 Education, including Higher Leaving Certificate 2007 Economy and Gross value added 2005 Environment and Households recycling waste Conclusions
Cllr Tony Ferguson thanked Mr. Brady for his presentation and the following issues were discussed: The Quality of Life differences between the East and West HSE Policy and health services issues Main causes of mortality, health promotion and ageing in Ireland Proposed changes in the Accident and Emergency Services in Roscommon HSE Surveys and the difference in life expectancies The benefits of the introduction of a Postcode System to Ireland The distribution of Defibrillators to communities including training Health Care Statistics, included Cancer Care and Surgery The measuring of happiness and Quality of Life The Lisbon Treaty Risk of poverty statistics provided in the Quality of Life Report
The availability of Broadband to all communities Medical card coverage Educational Issues and statistics provided for 2nd and 3rd Level students Market and non market services in the BMW Region
The meeting was informed that: The statistics contained in the Quality of Life Report includes data from other reports and surveys The Central Statistics Office provides general statistics on health issues as it is difficult to collect specific data in this area. The Health Service Executive can provide more detailed statistics on health issues There are several areas that impact on the quality of life, including health, education and lifestyle The effective distribution of Defibrillators to communities is important but the operation of a cardiac ambulance service is also a key issue. The introduction of a Postcode System to Ireland would benefit the collection of data on a geographical level. The fundamental part of quality of life is also based on measuring happiness and peoples perception of happiness Indicators for the perception of happiness are difficult to measure and the CSO has not yet got involved in the collection of data for this area. A recent statement from the Minister for Communications highlighted the proposed provision of Broadband to all communities A decision will be made later in the year on the successful tender for the National Broadband Scheme. The current census is very detailed and included door to door collection of data On average disposable income is higher in the Dublin region than other regions due to the availability of jobs The Border and West Regions have the highest level of medical card coverage
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Presentation by Mr. Gerry Finn, Director, BMW Regional Assembly, on the submission to the Evaluation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Programme. Mr. Gerry Finn gave a presentation on the submission to the Evaluation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Programme which included the following key points: Key Issues for the BMW Region Reinforcing Regional Imbalance Research & Development in the BMW Region Low Levels of Innovation in the BMW Region Weak Levels of Interaction between TLIs and Industry Underdeveloped 3rd Economic Role for TLIs Submission Policy Proposals
Cllr Ferguson thanked Mr. Finn for his presentation and the following issues were discussed by the members: Under-Investment of R&D in the BMW Region Research & Development Funding in the BMW Region
Low levels of interaction between Third Level Institutions and Enterprises Regional Investment Strategies Difficulty in recruiting world renowned professionals to 3rd Level Colleges Innovation Actions Programme and the Research Voucher Scheme The Regional element of the Evaluation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Programme Policy Proposals 5. Correspondence There was no correspondence 6. Speaker for Next Meeting Mr. Gerry Lavelle informed the members that if they had any suggestions or recommendations for speakers for the next sub-committee meeting to contact him. In the absence of any suggestions it was agreed that Mr. Lavelle would organise a speaker for the next meeting on a relevant topic. 7. Any Other Business There was no other business. This concluded the business of the meeting. The foregoing minutes are confirmed.
Signed: ___________________________ Cathaoirleach Date: ___________________________