Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has every right to vigorously represent his constituents in Waterford here, as he does, and I respect that. I have a right to put across the Government's view too. We promised a technological university. It is in the programme for Government. It has been delivered. We promised ring-fenced research funding. It has been delivered. We promised that we would help secure the Waterford Crystal site. It has been delivered. We will deliver the PPP bundle 2. I said that last week; I say it again this week too. We are committed to expanding opening hours in the cath labs and we have put investment in there. We have seen a €30 million flood protection scheme to protect businesses and residents along Waterford city's quays. There is a new state-of-the-art fire station with an investment of €10 million. There is investment that has paved the way for a €30 million expansion of the courthouse. The old disused railway line between the picturesque town of Dungarvan, which I visited two weeks' ago, and Waterford city is now a first-class greenway. There was investment of €25 million in that. There was €37 million from the ERDF and active travel funding for the city centre, the transformation of Grattan Square in Dungarvan and main street in Tramore. There has been €170 million committed by the Government for the north quays as well, enabling infrastructure, developing a new integrated transportation hub and a new grid linking the new north and south quays. There was €200 million spent on capital projects, including a number I have outlined. In the hospital, there is the 100-bed Dunmore wing, palliative care, second cath lab, new mortuary, primary care centres and lots more as well. There is always more to do in politics, but this is a Government that is investing in Waterford city, Waterford county and the south east because we believe in regional development and we believe in Waterford.

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