Fermanagh and Omagh District Council become "lobby group" for border communities

by Gráinne Connolly

Fermanagh and Omagh district council has agreed to work as a "lobby group" to protect border communities in the run up to and after Brexit. 

After carrying out some research, they found that Britains decision to leave Europe could affect economies along the border negatively. 

A recent council report showed that these areas lag behind other areas in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in terms of their economic performance.

There are many reasons for this including limited urbanisation and the impacts of peripherality. 

"It is also a direct result of an industrial structure in which lower productivity sectors are more significant, and firm structures where the local economies have higher proportions of small and micro businesses". 

For those reasons, the economies along the border will be most in need of protection when Brexit comes in to place. 

The council report stated that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will work with other border council's collectively as a "lobby group". 

They are: Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cavan County Council and Donegal County Council. 

One or more council seminars will be held to inform members and chambers of commerce on the results of the research and to gather opinions to use in lobbying.

The full council report can be read below where you see the findings of the research and what they aim to do.

Regeneration and Community Committee report