Sinn Féin TD for Waterford Conor McGuinness has said new figures from the South East Economic Monitor expose what he describes as a persistent failure by Government to invest fairly in Waterford and the wider region.

Speaking after raising the issue directly with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy McGuinness said the data highlights a growing imbalance in national investment priorities, with Waterford bearing the brunt of underinvestment.

The South East has 9 percent of the population but generates just 4 percent of national GDP and receives only 1.8 percent of major capital spending.

Deputy McGuinness said Waterford, as the region’s largest urban centre, feels the impact most sharply saying:

“Waterford should drive growth and opportunity across the South East, yet it is being starved of the investment needed to do that.”

Lowest Capital Spend per Person

Deputy McGuinness said the South East now receives the lowest level of major public capital investment of any region in the State, at €1,738 per person.

He contrasted this with spending levels in other regions, describing the gap as stark saying:

“That figure is less than half the spend in the South West and fourteen times lower than the level of investment going into Dublin”

He told the Taoiseach that the lack of funding for transport infrastructure and strategic development continues to undermine Waterford’s economic potential, despite repeated commitments at national level.

Calls for Shift in Investment Strategy

Deputy McGuinness also criticised what he described as a broader failure by both Government and IDA Ireland to prioritise Waterford for inward investment.

“Waterford has the workforce, the educational base and the potential to lead regional growth,” he said.

He warned that without targeted action, the local economy risks stagnation, with knock-on effects for employment and regional development.

Demand for Action

Deputy McGuinness called on the Government to place Waterford at the centre of any credible regional development strategy, arguing that meaningful change must go beyond rhetoric.

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