Costs of National Development plan to rise by 24%

A report by Davy's Stockbrokers on the National Development Plan sounds ``ominous signals for western development'' according to Sinn Féin's Mayo representative, Vincent Wood. The report indicated that spending levels would have to increase by 24% to meet even the targets in the Dublin Government's original plan.

Wood, who is a member of the Western Roads Action Committee and the Council of the West's Action Committee on Corrib Gas, said: ``We are constantly being assured by the government that much of what we are calling for in terms of infrastuctural development in the west will be catered for in the National Development Plan.''

However Wood highlighted the flaw in the government's analysis by showing that the report ``concludes that spending would have to be even higher on roads - and these figures are averages.

``We know only too well that the investment required in our roads here would be way above average levels.

``Charlie McCreevy is already under severe pressure from the European Commission and the European Central Bank to cut back on Government spending. During the debate on the Nice Treaty, I expressed the view that there would be consequences for western development if the EU continued to exert undue influence on our ability to allocate resources where they were most needed.

``The imbalance that exists in investment towards us in the west needs to be addressed now while the economy can carry such expenditure. It cannot wait until a re-evaluation of the National Development Plan is concluded. Government should directly coordinate a strategy to ensure that this region has the opportunity to develop equally with other regions. They will not be found wanting in help, advice and assistance from the people of the west of Ireland who know what is required.''