Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin is slamming what she describes as the "latest government discrimination" against the north and west.
The Independent TD says a decision to fund projects in 8 towns and cities across the country for the development of outdoor dining infrastructure while leaving the north and west completely excluded is another blatant disregard for balanced regional development.
While Athlone is included in the 8 towns, Deputy Harkin says there is not one north of a line from Dublin to Galway.
The TD says the failure to include towns from the north-western part of the country totally ignores the fact the region has now been returned to EU designation and a Region in Transition.
She says towns like Sligo and others in the north and west deserve at least the same government support as similar towns in other parts of the country.
