Independent Councillor Matt Shanahan has confirmed that he is running for the Dáil.
The cardiac campaigner was co-opted onto Waterford Council in January and topped the poll in Waterford City East in the local elections.
He says the present arrangements of the two main parties have united to deny Waterford and its citizens the investment and support required of a region encompassing half a million people.
Councillor Shanahan highlighted the "lack of investment in our Regional Hospital, the denial of University Status for Waterford Institute of Technology and the increasing inequality glaringly apparent between economic measures and development in the South East versus similar city regions in Ireland".
Meanwhile, Waterford Minister of State John Halligan has yet to declare his intentions.
There's speculation that he will announce his retirement this week.
Election Date
The Taoiseach is to meet with his ministers this morning to discuss the date for the upcoming general election.
It's believed Leo Varadkar could seek the dissolution of the current Dáil after this morning's Cabinet meeting.
He would need to call the election by Thursday if he wants it to be on February 7th as expected.
