The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) identifies a set of 'gateways' and 'hubs' envisaged as becoming the main drivers of regional growth. A key aim of the NSS is the creation within these centres of specialised and competitive enterprise bases. This paper examines the progress that has been made towards the achievement of these objectives. Using data derived from the Forfas annual survey of state-assisted enterprises, the paper analyses trends in employment in the gateways and hubs, and the evidence of sectoral clustering at regional level, over the period 2001-2011. In both cases the results were largely negative, with most gateways/hubs experiencing substantial employment loss, and only Cork and Galway portraying the kind of dynamism envisaged by the NSS. The positive performance of these two centres is associated with strong growth in the electronics and medical devices sectors, respectively. Elsewhere, outside of resource-based activities, there has been little evidence of regional specialisation.