An action group set up to identify obstacles to the growth of Sligo has strongly criticised the Government for not upgading the N4 to a motorway.
The group, which published its report this week, points out that the Sligo to Dublin road is one of only two main arteries not being upgraded to motorway.
It says the decision to build motorways to Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Belfast will further underpin the advantage these cities have over the north-west.
"The decision of the Government to fly in the face of its own National Development Plan is totally unacceptable," the report states, and unless the decision was reversed, "other regions will further prosper and we decline".
The Sligo action group was set up last July and was chaired by the chief executive of Connacht Gold Co-op, Mr Michael Farrell. It also included the president of Sligo Chamber of Commerce, Mr Jim Lawlor.
Introducing the report, Mr Farrell said the main obstacle to Sligo's growth was the electricity supply. This had to be improved urgently because otherwise there was "no prospect" of any significant high-tech project locating in Sligo.
The report says the north-west is "at risk" from the shortage of supply and the "short-term response from Government" was the lease of generators located at Killala in Co Mayo. The ESB is planning a 220kV line from Flagford near Carrick-on-Shannon to east Co Sligo but there is strong local opposition to the overhead lines and large pylons.
The report says the Government and local authorities should provide "fast-track planning clearance for essential infrastructure" to improve the electricity supply and compensate those "genuinely discommoded".
Problems at Sligo Airport are also highlighted. "Operating with scant resources, an inadequate timetable and frequency, Sligo Airport does not have any meaningful hope of long-term financial viability," it states. Sligo Airport must be given the regional airport designation for north Connacht and south Donegal and all access roads improved. Knock International Airport is described as "a hopelessly under-utilised and potentially highly important element of infrastructure for almost all of the BMW region".
"It is the firm view of the group that all national flights should go to Sligo with Knock handling international passenger and freight traffic," it states.
A natural gas pipeline to Sligo, which the Government has pledged to build, should be started concurrently with those from north Mayo to Galway and from Galway to Limerick and Dublin.
The action group also calls for Sligo Corporation to tackle the town's traffic problems, and in the IT sector for a study of broadband infrastructure.
Mr Farrell said it was now up to public representatives, in particular, to work together to ensure Sligo and its hinterland achieved "its long overdue and necessary development".