Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the north quays project in Waterford numerous times and I know the Minister of State is familiar with it. The north quays in Waterford is the site of a proposed €350 million regeneration project that will be a game-changer for the city. This opportunity has presented itself through the hard work and efforts of Waterford City and County Council under the leadership of its CEO, Mr. Michael Walsh. The proposed investment in Waterford city by the Alhokair Group from Saudi Arabia has provided a much-needed confidence boost for the city and the whole south east.

The south east needs a regional city of consequence and that must be Waterford. The city must be enabled for propulsive growth. For regions to be strong, they need a strong city. However, this project is so much more, with an impact on additional permanent services such as healthcare, education and transport. It would also have significant economic benefits. The development is planned on approximately 17 acres of substantial and spectacular river frontage. The proposal includes development of a total of 60,000 sq. m to include retail units, leisure and office space, 200 apartments and a relocated train station, which will result in an integrated transport hub. This will provide a sustainable transport corridor and improve access from north to south by creating a pedestrian bridge linking the north quays to the south quays and the remainder of the city centre. The north quays development will increase Waterford’s retail offering by 50%. It is envisaged that 2,300 direct jobs will be created on completion of the project.

The planning application for the project is extensive. The scale of the documentation is enormous and the application is cognisant of all regulatory guidelines. The cost alone of printing the documents is around €120,000, which gives an idea of the work that has already gone into this project. I understand the planning application will be lodged in coming weeks.

Waterford can and must act as a release valve for the pressure that is building in the capital. The city and county council has done an amazing job in getting the project to the current stage with the support of politicians, Waterford Chamber of Commerce, the Alhokair Group and other stakeholders. Under the national planning framework, on which the Minister of State has worked hard, Waterford metropolitan area has been designated for population growth of up to 30,000. If Waterford is to realise this aspiration, the development of the north quays is crucial.

In 2017, Waterford City and County Council applied for funding of €20.1 million from the urban regeneration and development fund for the first phase of this development.

It received €6 million, which is well short of what is required. We need to see how seriously the Government views promoting regional economic development. What we need from the Government today is certainty, commitment and clarity. We need certainty that the Government fully supports this vital project, commitment to the finance required over the next three to four years and clarity as to when and how the finance will be allocated to progress this vital project. When will the 2019 tranche of funding be allocated?

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