The EU has approved regional development funding of €217 million for the northern and western regions of Ireland.
The money is to be used for a series of projects, aiming to boost the region’s economy.
Regional assembly data shows that the north and west areas have an economic output of less than half the state average.
Midlands North-West MEP, Colm Markey, hopes the cash can be used to revitalize our “hollowed out” towns: