The achievement of balanced regional development is now one of the main goals of government.

Economic growth is a great blessing; but it can become a curse if it is not properly managed in the national interest. It is obvious that Dublin is now creaking at the seams after years of strong and sustained growth. Yet, there are parts of rural Ireland which have scarcely been touched by the economic miracle.

Government has a duty to ensure that all areas of the country have a chance to share in the fruits of economic growth. Major policy initiatives will be required if we are to make this happen.

The present government has already clearly demonstrated its commitment to regionalisation. We have succeeded in securing a continuation of Objective One status for the Border, Midlands and Western region of the country. And we have just agreed new regional aid guidelines with the European Commission. The effect of both measures will be to enable us to target assistance at those regions of the country where it is needed most to stimulate job-creating investment.

Another area where action is needed is national infrastructure. Ireland is a small country and no part of it should be considered remote. Yet, we know that because of poor infrastructure it is virtually impossible to attract investment into certain areas.

The National Development Plan, due for publication shortly, will outline a vigorous and imaginative response to Ireland’s infrastructural problems.

The national road network is crucial. We need to bring our national network up to a proper international standard and we need to do it fast. I am determined that we get away once and for all from the by-pass mentality and that we think in terms of total route development for the links between our major population centres.

This country underwent an infrastructural transformation once before. That was back in the middle of the last century when the core of our national rail network was laid down in the space of a single decade.

We need to emulate that performance now if we are going to have the kind of high-quality national road network appropriate to the needs of a modern, exporting economy.

Infrastructure is not just about roads. Our rail network has to be upgraded and the government has already signalled its intentions in this regard. We must also ensure that all regions have the kind of telecommunications and electricity services required to attract investment and generate growth.

This is a small country. No part of it need be remote, or cut off from markets, or denied opportunities for advancement.

The telecommunications revoultion has particular implications for the delivery of government services and opens up major opportunities for decentralisation.

Despite some progress over recent years the machinery of central government is still concentrated very heavily in Dublin. We need to start moving some of that activity out of the capital and into the regions. Experience has shown that the relocation of government offices can have a revitalising effect on provincial towns. I want to see that process of revitalisation becoming a key component of government policy.

The co-operative movement has played a huge role in regional development and rural development in Ireland over the last hundred years and I am sure that it will continue to do so for another hundred at least.

I want to assure you of the strength of this government’s commitment to rural Ireland and to balanced regional development. Yes, we will continue to have robust economic growth; but that growth will be managed for the benefit of all parts of the country.