Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has said that economic growth in Waterford and the wider South East region is being hampered by a lack of state spending on infrastructure, including investment in housing, roads, education and international connectivity. McGuinness attended a high level meeting with Waterford Chamber of Commerce alongside his constituency colleague David Cullinane, and Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty.
McGuinness said:
“I have been making the argument for increases investment in infrastructure at meetings of the Waterford Enterprise and Economic Development SPC and the Southern Regional Assembly over recent years. I want to thank Waterford Chamber for the very engaging meeting with our delegation, and for the forthright way they put their concerns about balance in regional investment.
“Business is very clear about this – if Waterford and the wider region is to grow and develop economically it must be supported by Government. There is an onus on all public representatives in the region to advocate for this, and to challenge the prevailing attitude that Waterford can wait.
“Waterford cannot wait. We are on the crest of a wave, with huge opportunities open to us to grow our economy and catch up with other regions. This means significant investment in housing. Economic growth will depend on being able to sustain an active workforce. Current shortages in housing are creating huge difficulty and distress for our people and is forcing many businesses to postpone expansion.
“Similarly we need to see greater road, rail, marine and air connectivity in the South East. The foot dragging by Government on major infrastructure projects needs to end. Government has the funds at its disposal to embark on a much needed capital investment programme – to undo some of the lost opportunity from the austerity decade.
“SETU has an ambitious strategic vision to make Waterford and the region a world centre for research and innovation, as well as to encourage our young people to stay in the region. To achieve this vision they will need to lead on significant inward investment. It appears to be lost on Government that the South East is the only region in the state with a single university. We have to enable SETU to fulfil its potential – in the simplest terms this means providing it with adequate funding.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 