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Waterford Chamber of Commerce today responded to the Government’s capital spending programme for the next five years, expressing concern regarding the level of investment planned for the South East.
The Department of Finance’s review document ‘Infrastructure Priorities 2010 to 2016,’ makes it clear that significant capital expenditure will be carried out in Dublin, particularly in the areas of public transport, but it is far from clear whether Waterford and the South East will see anywhere near enough investment in the next five years, to deliver the infrastructure that is needed in the region. For example, at a time when there is major investment in rail infrastructure planned for Dublin and elsewhere, here in the South East the potential of the existing rail line linking Wexford, Rosslare, Waterford and Limerick has been ignored by Government and its agents to the extent that Iarnrod Eireann now wants to close down passenger services between Rosslare and Waterford.
Government must remain conscious of regional development, particularly in the South East where state investment lagged behind most other regions during the boom. As Chamber President Tom Murran puts it, “the people of Waterford and the South East have the will and the energy to contribute strongly to national recovery and growth but we need Government to invest in the infrastructure that will allow this to happen.”
The review includes a commitment to “revitalising the development of the National Spatial Strategy Gateways as the key motors of growth within their regions.” Chamber Vice President Orm Kenny said; “This acknowledgement of the importance of regional Gateways such as Waterford is very positive but it must be followed up by genuine and tangible actions that support Waterford’s development as the Gateway to the South East and enable it to drive economic growth throughout the region.”
The Department of Finance makes particular reference to attracting new investment from overseas and assisting in the expansion of Irish-owned firms. Kenny believes it is imperative that this is given particular focus in the South East. “While the M9 is a hugely welcome development which will make a difference, it is not the whole story. We must consider all the key factors that affect the location decisions of business including road, air and sea connectivity; top quality educational and R&D facilities; and 21st century broadband infrastructure.”
Welcoming the Government’s re-commitment to developing the Atlantic Corridor and N11 routes, Kenny continued; “These are important road links to the South East and it is vital that these routes and key strategic projects such as the New Ross bypass and the N24 Waterford to Limerick road, are prioritised in the Government review of national road projects due to be completed this year.”
The Department of Finance document includes negative comments about regional airports which it says are “located along the Western and Southern coast from Donegal to Waterford” and it complains about the “size of the Public Service Obligation subvention (PSO) required to keep many routes operational”.
Tom Murran says that “Waterford Chamber and the vast majority of business people in the South East would take serious issue with the Department’s comments regarding regional airports being applied to Waterford. When the Department refers to PSO subventions, what they really mean is cheap flights to Dublin from the regional airports which do not bring overseas tourists or business people into Ireland. Waterford Airport is very different to the airports in the West: It is the only airport in the South East region and unlike all other regional airports, Waterford has never had cheap flights to Dublin paid for by Government. Our regional airport provides scheduled services connecting the South East directly to key markets in the UK and France which are of huge importance to inward business investment and tourism. Rather than flying people from the West to Dublin, Waterford Airport brings people into the country who might otherwise not have come to Ireland at all.”
The Chamber points to a recent report by transport economists Colin Buchanan and Partners which found that Waterford Airport is key to the economy of the South East and that the Government should continue to fully support Waterford Airport as a vital part of the region’s infrastructure. Waterford Chamber wants an immediate reversal of the 2008 Government decision to freeze the airport’s capital programme which would result in runway infrastructure supporting commercial jets, bringing more routes and more tourist and business investment into Ireland and the South East.
In light of the priority attached to investment in education, science, technology and innovation by the Department of Finance’s review, Tom Murran is disappointed that there is nothing in the document to suggest that the critical importance of establishing a University of the South East is being recognized: “The Department’s document talks about targeted investment in higher education infrastructure ‘where there is a robust economic case.’ The economic case for a University of the South East is irrefutable and it is high time that the Government and all opposition parties gave a clear commitment to establishing our university without further delay.”
“Waterford Chamber calls on Government, politicians and state agencies to place investment and development in the South East at the top of their agenda. We are confident that given the right tools, the 500,000 people and the business community in this region will not be found wanting in applying their energy to delivering a high return on that investment and making a strong contribution to national economic recovery. ” concluded Tom Murran. |
