Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin says she'll be watching the programme for government very closely in the coming months to make sure it isn't ignoring the need for development in the north west.
The Independent TD told the Dail this week that the region has economically regressed over the past two decades and has had its status reduced from a "developed region" to a region in "economic transition".
Deputy Harkin also said that as leader of the Objective 1 campaign 25 years ago she never thought she would see the day when the region fell back again economically.
The Independent TD says while Taoiseach Michael Martin says the government is aware of the need to rebalance the country, she will be looking out for concrete delivery as opposed to words.
