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

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I also thank him for his initial kind comments, although I felt a sting was going to come at some stage towards the latter end of his contribution. I will make it very clear that the Government is absolutely committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all our citizens, regardless of geography or where people live. We are particularly committed to regional development because it is important we get regional, balanced development in the country, economically, socially, educationally and culturally.

It has to be acknowledged that the Government acted very early on the two calls for proposals under the urban regeneration and redevelopment fund, URDF. More than €110 million has been allocated for projects in Waterford city and county under those two calls. The Government recently approved a final business case for the URDF Waterford north quays public infrastructure project. As the Deputy knows, there were some early issues with that project that were not of the Government's making. That funding, however, enables the largest urban regeneration project in the country to begin. The Waterford north quays URDF public infrastructure project involves the provision of key, sustainable transport infrastructure. It will transform the city and regional access, and facilitate game-changing development on the north side of the River Suir. That has to be acknowledged. This is a big development that will leave a very important legacy to Waterford. The total Exchequer funding for it is approximately €170 million if local authority, URDF and National Transport Authority funding of about €70 million is included. Waterford City and County Council will proceed to the main construction contract.

The new South East Technological University was formally opened in October by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. Its first president, Professor Veronica Campbell, is a former bursar of Trinity College Dublin. It is a very strong technological university. The Minister and Department are committed to expanding the footprint of the university in Waterford. The engineering, computing and general teaching building in Waterford is being advanced through the higher education public private partnership programme. Additionally, construction is scheduled to commence next year on significant energy retrofit projects in Waterford. The Minister recently confirmed approval was given to the technological university for negotiations with the vendor of a site in Waterford within agreed parameters, again to expand the footprint of the university in the city. On 11 November, the Minister, Deputy Harris, announced €23 million in funding for technological universities, including a further €5.25 million for the South East Technological University. That brings the full funding to that university close to €20 million, if the €10.6 million of the previous fund is taken into account.

University Hospital Waterford is currently progressing the development of the second cardiac cath lab. The construction, completion and handover of the second cath lab is now expected the week beginning 28 November, which is next week. We then have to equip and commission it, which will take 12 to 16 weeks. That is good progress on that front.

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