Less funding for Clare

EDITORIAL

ON the back foot when it comes to looking for capital investment and grant aid. That’s where you can expect to be if there is no Government minister in your constituency.
This has long been held to be the case but a new study by a former Irish Times economics editor has shown how the level of support for capital projects is generally highest when the minister at the relevant department is from the constituency.
In the study of government capital spending on education, sport and non-national roads over a six-year period, Dr Jane Suiter concluded that expenditure was generally higher in the constituencies that elected the corresponding cabinet ministers.
The study revealed that Clare has received less than the national average in government grants for the majority of two specific periods from 2002 to 2004 and 2005 to 2007. Huge disparities in funding emerged between Clare and other counties that had the advantage of having a senior ministry, according to Dr Suiter.
The former journalist, who undertook the study for a PhD thesis at Trinity College, says the figures show there was very little evidence that funds were targeted across the country in a fair and equitable manner or in line with policy.
Dr Suiter pointed out, however, that merely electing a cabinet minister wasn’t enough to ensure that money flowed to a particular constituency; that minister had to be in control of the purse strings in a particular department to accrue substantial benefits for their home patch.
Bereft of a full minister for eight years, Clare was among the places fairly low in the pecking order when it came to the allocation of funding compared to the top beneficiaries of the public purse.
With a few exceptions, such as the recently opened Western Rail Corridor and the upgraded main Limerick/Galway road, Clare has lagged behind many other counties in terms of the number of projects delivered in recent years.
The political football match over the findings of the report has already kicked off with claim and counter-claim among Clare’s TDs. After an eight-year gap to when Clare last had a full ministerial post, the pressure falls on recently appointed Defence Minister Tony Killeen to ensure this county gets a fairer crack in respect of securing substantial projects and the delivery of capital grants. His performance in this regard alone will certainly be a major consideration for many voters at the next election.

A silver lining?

WITH flights in and out of Irish airports postponed again this week due to the drifting ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano, the airline and tourism industry has taken another battering.
It is estimated that Dublin Airport Authority sustained losses in the region of €8 million as a result of the cancellation of 3,200 flights, affecting 400,000 passengers, during the six-day shutdown in April.
The latest setback on Tuesday and Wednesday hasn’t curtailed flights to the same degree but intermittent closure of Irish airspace in the coming months would see losses accumulating at an alarming rate for our airports and airlines. Down time could also have implications for airport and airline staff earnings. 
Furthermore, there’s the financial losses and inconvenience endured by members of the travelling public and, of course, the loss of revenue to the tourism sector at home and abroad with a knock-on effect on a raft of service providers.
Forecasters are predicting more volcanic ash will drift over Irish and British airspace later this week and Irish Airport Authority (IAA) chief executive, Eamon Brennan, said in a radio interview, “we’re probably facing a summer of uncertainty due to this ash cloud”.
There is, however, a possibility that the ash-laden clouds may have a silver lining. Many people considering holidaying abroad could well decide to eliminate the risk by travelling to Britain or the continent by car ferry. The curtailment of flights to date has already given ferries a new lease of life and advance bookings are encouraging. Irish tourism interests should put on a big push to promote inward passenger traffic on this mode of transport.
Yet another option for Irish holidaymakers is simply to keep their feet on terra firma at home. This could be a blessing in disguise for the tourism sector in the Mid-West, which has been on a downward spiral in recent years, especially in regard to the massive fall-off in overseas visitors.
There must be a concerted effort to ensure that this region gets a decent slice of what could well be a bigger than usual home holiday market this year.  In addition to flagging the high profile tourism products and natural wonders of the region, the little-known treasures of towns and villages must be brought to the attention of a wider audience through advertising campaigns and websites.
It is critical, however, that the Irish tourism industry as a whole does not aim to make a killing at the expense of those who do stray beyond their garden gates this summer and take a break within a few hours’ driving distance. To convince the public of the merits of a home holiday, Irish hoteliers, B&B operators, restaurateurs and others in the tourism trade must ensure they deliver value for money. Good value must be added to our international reputation for green fields and a warm welcome.
To be fair, there are sectors in the market that have already become very competitive with special deals on accommodation or dining out but this must become the norm rather than the exception. Even factoring in the notoriously unpredictable nature of our weather, Ireland has much to offer by way of holidays for people of all ages.