John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Senator Keogan on her contribution on foster parents.

On 10 November, the Cabinet signed off on a massive €110 million investment project on the north quays in Waterford city. This was the culmination of years of very hard work by many in Waterford as well as the previous Fine Gael-led Government's policy on strategic development zones, SDZs. There is no question that this project will transform the city in the years ahead but there are a number of other projects in the pipeline for Waterford that will help Ireland to meet its targets and projections under Project Ireland 2040. One such project is the ambitious plan submitted by Waterford City and County Council under the second call for the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. The council has sought funding of €27.6 million as part of a €48.5 million plan to regenerate derelict and underutilised buildings in the wider Viking triangle and cultural quarter areas as well as improving the public realm from O'Connell Street to the new whiskey distillery on Mary Street, the creation of a new linear park on Spring Garden Alley and a new square, called Friary Square, with new housing and commercial units at ground floor level. In total, 22 projects are earmarked for investment as part of the plan. This is an excellent project that deserves the backing of Government.

Colleagues may accuse me of being parochial or greedy, given the significant investment that the Government has made in the north quays through the URDF but I make no apologies for that. As I have said previously, Waterford city and its development as the key economic driver of the south-east will be the litmus test for the successful completion of Project Ireland 2040. I ask the Leader to ascertain if a decision been made on whether the regional development projects to be funded under the URDF will be announced before Christmas or in the new year.