Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and his continuing engagement with regard to the development of Waterford and the south-east region. As he rightly said, the Government has invested very significantly in the region. I have been there many times myself. Indeed I met the Deputy there on a number of occasions. The urban regeneration and development Fund, URDF, funding for the North Quays, Waterford city, the surrounding county and indeed the region will be transformational. It is great to see contractors and work happening on the ground. That was total Exchequer funding of about €170 million with estimated overall investment in that project alone of over €207.5 million. I am aware the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, has addressed the new technological university directly with the Deputy. Work is advancing on that and on the expansion of the site with the recent approved purchase of the Waterford Crystal site. The Minister, Deputy Harris, continues to prioritise two public-private partnership, PPP projects in bundle 2 for campuses in Waterford and indeed with Carlow.

On the boundary, I have no skin in the game whatsoever there. This is an issue that was dealt with before. The former Minister decided not to extend the boundary into Ferrybank. There are issues certainly with regard to Kilkenny and the region as to how it would be received down there. I want to be straight with the Deputy on this. I do not propose to make any changes to the county boundaries between Waterford and Kilkenny. I think the region can grow as a whole. A lot of work is done between Kilkenny City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council already. We can see that by some of the joint applications under URDF and when we have been there we have seen the benefit of the North Quays opening up that part of south Kilkenny as well. The two counties can and will develop together. I do not see how the expansion of the county boundary from Waterford into Kilkenny or a reallocation of boundaries would in any way further enhance what we are doing at the moment. I say that respectfully. Previously, this was a debate that was quite fraught. There are identities in relation to counties that people hold very dear and I fully understand that too. My and the Government's focus will be continuing to invest in Waterford and in the south-east region, which we have done at an unprecedented level. Boundary changes, while there may appear to be some logic on the map, are not going to do anything to drive further investment or growth within that region. Real, tangible investment in terms of what Government is doing and indeed by the private sector, and the jobs growth within Waterford are to be greatly welcomed. I and the Government will continue to support Waterford and the south-east region in its development.

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