Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This campaign has been organised by ordinary citizens of Waterford city. I am sure Senator Cullinane is well aware of the campaign and I am sure he will be supporting it, as I will. The campaign questions why the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government chose to close down Waterford City Council. I want to question the Minister on the rationale for closing the boroughs and large councils throughout the country which are functioning very well. The ordinary people of Waterford have decided to donate a shirt, the last thing they have on their back, as a way of bringing their campaign to the gates of Leinster House. In Waterford, the regional hospital is being threatened, the IDA has been moved to Cork and the VEC is to be wound up. Waterford is the gateway to the south east. I live very close to Waterford city in a neighbouring constituency. We have looked to the critical mass of the gateway of the south east for the provision of foreign direct investment to the south east, which will impinge favourably on surrounding constituencies. The IDA has moved to Cork and so have all the recent job announcements. This is a plea from the people of the city of Waterford. Will the Acting Leader ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government what is the rationale for abolishing Waterford City Council and allowing Galway City Council to stay in place?