The Minister for Housing says that Waterford is an area of ‘immense potential’, that can be the driver of the South East region for years to come.
Those were the sentiments of Housing Minister, Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fáil) as he spoke with members of Waterford Chamber as part of a housing engagement event webinar earlier this week.
Minister O’Brien praised the work being carried out locally by Waterford Council CEO Michael Walsh and Director of Housing, Ivan Grimes, in his initial address.
“Waterford is a city and county that I know extremely well. It has immense potential. There are a lot of people with serious drive but pride in their area, and we can see the vast potential that is there. That’s why the team of Michael [Walsh] and Ivan [Grimes] in the City & County Council who work with the Chamber, are very important. There’s a vision for the region, for the area - with Waterford being the city that anchors that region.”
North Quays
The Minister also outlined his eagerness to see delivery when it comes to the ‘vote of confidence’ invested into the county in terms of North Quays funding. He says the project has the potential to unlock the South East.
“We’ve already in a short space of time, in 18 months, provided what is a serious vote of confidence for Waterford. That’s the €110m funding that we have granted for the North Quays project which will unlock that area. It has the potential to, but we need to see it happen. In relation to providing additional homes within the city, a new public transport hub, a new train station - all of those things are really important.”
Delivery
While there has been some criticism nationally of the government’s new plan to tackle the housing crisis, namely Housing For All, Deputy O’Brien believes that 2022 will be a great year in terms of the delivery of social and affordable housing in Ireland.
“Housing For All is a plan that sets us on the way to delivering 300,000 new homes. We need more stock as our population grows and we must make up for lost time over the last number of years. It looks to invest in that through social and affordable homes, 9,000 new social homes to be built this year, in 2022. For the first time, every local authority has to deliver a housing action plan to me. That sets out their housing targets between now, and 2026.”
Reiterating his previous points, the Minister conceded that 2022 simply has to be a year for delivery on account of previous failings. He does say that the proposals received from Waterford are ‘extremely progressive’.
“2022 has to be a year of delivery. I’m insisting upon all of our partners, that it will be. There are challenges there, no question - and we are not going to turn it around overnight. On the delivery of affordable housing, we’re going to see affordable housing now for our people delivered this year. I’ve targeted 4,100 - and I’ve some good proposals by the way from Waterford, that have come in from the Department. Can’t go into any more detail from it, but I have to say that your local authority have been extremely progressive.”
Schemes
The Dublin-Fingal TD also outlined that it is his desire to expand the cost-rental and affordable purchase schemes into County Waterford to unlock more doors for potential buyers.
“I want to see cost-rental established in Waterford. I want to see affordable purchase established in Waterford. There are going to be opportunities, I believe, to do that - but it will take a little bit of time. What our people need to see is delivery.”
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