Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Value for public expenditure is very important. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, is both keenly aware of and focused on that and has already taken a range of measures and decisions to provide for it.

I reassure the Deputy that the Government is absolutely committed to the south east. That is evidenced by the overall funding that has been allocated to County Waterford under urban regeneration and our working with the council chief executive in terms of the north quays project, notwithstanding the recent difficulties there. The funding was allocated in advance in respect of that project and the difficulties relating to it have not been on the State's side. We are working with the council to advance the project. Across the industrial and higher education sectors and in the context of a range of other projects, the Government will continue to support the economic needs of the entire south east region, including County Waterford, obviously, counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford and so on.

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