Galway lags well behind east coast when it comes to spending power

The full extent of the economic bias in favour of Dublin versus the West of Ireland is laid bare in a new report that reveals shocking disparities in the levels of disposable incomes of people in the capital compared with Galway and Mayo. 

Startling CSO figures sheer scale of the economic disparity between Dublin and the West – they suggest the gap between the rich in Dublin and the poor in Galway and the wider West is growing. 

Disposable income per person in Dublin is just under €21,600 in Dublin compared with just over €19,000 in County Galway.

The results of the Regional Quality of Life in Ireland report published this week, underlines the failure of successive Government’s regional and spatial strategies, according to Ireland West MEP, Marian Harkin.

She said Galway and the BMW (Border/Midland/West) region continues to lag behind Dublin in terms of economic development, and that the gap between the West and the rest certainly hasn’t narrowed, and has widened in certain instances.

Another shocking economic indicator in the report that shows the glaringly obvious discrimination against Galway and the west, is the GDP indicator: The State index for GDP is 100 and the West is at 79.6 while Dublin is at 152.4.

“What that is telling is you is that the wealth is generated to a far greater extent in Dublin and that has a knock-on effect on business and the quality of life in people in the West,” said Ms Harkin, who cut her teeth politically championing balanced regional development.

“I have to be honest, we are never going to have each region develop equally but in order for the entire country to develop each region has to be supported and encouraged to flourish and that’s not happening . . . the gap hasn’t narrowed and probably has widened,” she said.

Ms Harkin said the consequences of disposable income levels in County Galway of €2,500 less than Dublin, has huge consequences for local businesses. “What do these figures mean?

In practical terms it means that people in Galway have less money to spend, so their quality of life is poorer and they’re struggling more. That has a knock-on effect on local shops and local businesses and puts further pressure on them . . . and it has implications then for rural life and particularly of small towns and villages in Galway and Mayo,” she said.

Ms Harkin said that Galway City is a catalyst for growth and development but even with the city attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the West still lags way behind the East and Dublin.

“Galway City is the best of the west but even still it’s not lifting all boats. We don’t get a breakdown between city and county but you can safely assume that disposable income levels in County Galway are lower again compared with Dublin.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.