Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The results speak for themselves. The Senator mentioned the high level of unemployment. I compliment the former Minister, Mr. Martin Cullen, on ensuring that we had a motorway between Dublin and Waterford. Were it not for his presence as the Minister for Transport, that would not have happened. The money would probably have been diverted to the Dublin-Sligo route by other Cabinet members. He played a major role in the facility, which has opened up opportunities in the south east that would not have existed otherwise.

Senator Cummins is right, in that Waterford city has seen significant levels of investment in recent weeks, for example, €6.5 million for upgrading water services, a further €12.5 million to be announced tomorrow for housing and a €5 million surplus that I have guaranteed to Waterford city councillors as regards rates. Come the city's budget time, I look forward to Senator Cullinane and his party supporting Fine Gael's councillors in passing estimates that reduce commercial rates for small businesses, towards which his party seems to have adopted a new attitude, and give them a chance to survive and prosper in this difficult climate, taking on more employees in the process.

I assure Senator Cummins that the history of and traditions associated with the 1,100 years of the mayoralty of Waterford will continue under this legislation. The metropolitan district will have a mayor of Waterford who will be empowered with the same level of history, cultures, traditions, civic responsibilities and duties. I also assure him that the technological university of the south east project is making progress. Legislation will be published in 2014 to allow for the merger of entities like Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology, Carlow. That merged entity could then apply for university status as a technological university for the south east. This is important for the future development of the south east, which is the only region without a university. I am delighted to be a part of a Government that included this matter in a programme for Government for the first time ever. This will provide equality of opportunity and access to families and individuals in the south east, in that a technological education at university level will be supplied as close as possible to where they reside.