A Waterford TD wants to know when will the South East get its share of capital funding.
Matt Shanahan told the Dáil that there was nothing in this weeks budget to signal the upgrading of University Hospital Waterford - the lowest funded model 4 hospital in the country.
He says there was no mention of upgrading the N24, no announcement on funding for the North Quays and nothing to recognise WIT.
The Independent Deputy put questions to Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
"What is the Government's future attitude and commitment to fairness for Waterford and the south-east?
"Do we matter in health, education and economic revival?"
Deputy Shanahan went on to say that "the south-east is currently worst-performing region in the country and prior to Covid-19, Waterford had the highest city unemployment in the country".
He questioned further, "Will the Taoiseach commit to future funding so as to bring fairness for Waterford and the south-east?
"Will he commit that this will be delivered in the lifetime of this Government?"
The Taoiseach says he gets the Deputy's point in terms of the future:
"The technological university process is moving on. The Deputy knows the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is drafting a memo for the Government on a funding package for the North Quays development," he said, adding that "we will proactively move to see how we can help Waterford to develop that exciting project".
Mr Martin said "The second cath lab in Waterford has gone to tender. That is a step forward and the deadline for the receipt of applications is 16 November. It is envisaged that the bidding will commence in the first quarter of next year. I know the Deputy will be tenacious on this and keep at us on the timeline but it is happening and it will happen."
Matt Shanahan says Waterford and the South East are ready to play their part in the economic revival of Ireland.
He highlighted the "fantastic innovation clusters and a vibrant agri-food sector" and "a college performing way above other colleges in the country, as is our hospital".
"All we are asking for is an acknowledgement of this and fairness," Deputy Shanahan added.
"We are not looking for a handout but we are looking to be helped up so we can make a really significant drive for the regional recovery of Ireland.
"We can play a major role and we are ready to do it. We are looking for a Government commitment to fund it so we can achieve primacy in this country."
The Taoiseach Micheal Martin says they want regional development:
"I often felt we could have done better with financial services in Waterford from a foreign direct investment perspective, and I am keen on that.
"We want regional development and we need to rebalance the country's economy and society. This means doing far more for cities like Waterford than what has happened in the past two or three decades," the Taoiseach concluded.
