Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane has strongly criticised the Government’s ‘neglect of Waterford and the South East region’, which he says ‘has led to a stagnant regional economy’ as identified by the South East Economic Monitor. 

Deputy Cullinane said that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s neglect of the South East is clearly evident in funding decisions which have resulted in a major shortfall in capital investment in the region.

He pointed to under-funding of University Hospital Waterford and the South East Technological University relative to comparable institutions, a starvation of road funding for the N24 and N25, as well as the six-year saga of delays to the runway extension as Waterford Airport as ‘clear evidence that Waterford and the south east is not a priority for Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.’

“It was shocking to see that the South East Economic Monitor found that there has been no real economic growth in the south east since 2018, but this is hardly surprising to us in Waterford who have seen the city and county neglected time-and-again for investment.

“The regional economy cannot grow without investment, and capital funding from Government is a key part of this. The stats are clear – Waterford and the South East are being disadvantaged by under-investment.

“Of the eight major Model 4 hospitals in the State, University Hospital Waterford has received the joint-least funding of any major hospital over the last decade.

“The N24 and N25 road upgrades, which are essential for growing the regional economy, have been starved of funding. The preferred option for the N25 was selected in 2021 but it has not received funding since 2022. Neither the N24 nor N25 received funding to advance to the next stage – design – in 2025, never mind funding for actual construction works.

“The South East Technological University has received less public investment funding than any other Technological University in the State, both in total and in the first three years since establishment.

“And of course, on top of it all is the six-year saga of delay after delay to funding for the runway extension at Waterford Airport.

“The South East is not getting its fair share of investment, and this is having real consequences for the regional economy. I will be raising this with the Taoiseach today because the Government must act, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must stop neglecting the South East.”

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