Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The live register numbers for Waterford city and Dungarvan combined stood at 9,786 on 30 November. This compares to 6,324 on 30 November 2007, representing an increase of 54.7%. In only one year, unemployment shot up by 54.6% in Waterford city while the increase in Dungarvan was even more dramatic at 55.4%. This rapidly deteriorating position requires substantial and immediate action. An urgent first step must be the appointment of a director of employment for the south-east region who would have overall responsibility not only for job creation, but also the power to implement the necessary measures to rapidly reduce the unacceptably high level of unemployment in the area. Waterford constituency has excellent people and world class expertise but capacity building investment is urgently needed to reverse the avalanche of job losses. The appointment of a director of employment with real and co-ordinated power to work across a wide range of organisations, sectors and enterprises would be a useful first step.

The Government decision regarding the south east that most urgently needs attention concerns the upgrading of Waterford Institute of Technology to the university of the south east. I tabled a parliamentary question today to the Minister for Education and Science asking whether a decision would be reached on the application by 31 December 2008. However, for the third time this Dáil, he stated in reply that the application would be finalised in the near future. This is not only an education matter because it is absolutely vital to job creation in the region. The fact that this matter continues to be long fingered underlines the neglect of the development of Waterford and the south east by the Government parties and the failure to adopt a meaningful strategy for economic and industrial development. The lack of a university seriously handicaps the region in generating jobs in the sectors where sustainable employment can be created such as the knowledge economy and medical technologies. These sectors need positive government intervention urgently.

In recent weeks I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment asking about her strategic plan for the industrial and commercial development of the south east. Her reply was insipid and lacking in urgency. Other than platitudinous references to various agencies, it contained no co-ordinated, focused vision indicating the way ahead and this is not acceptable. In repeating my demand for a Government decision on the application of Waterford Institute of Technology for upgrading to university status by year end. I reiterate my call for the appointment of a director of employment for the region to pull the various elements together in an effective way to begin the region's fight back against rapidly escalating unemployment.

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