City Centre must come first
Waterford Fine Gael TD John Deasy says redeveloping the North Quays is not the main priority when it comes to getting government funding for the City.
“The top priority remains the NAMA/Michael Street development (pictured) incorporating a glazed Apple Market area. There is an absolute necessity to develop a major retail sector in Waterford city.
“The second priority is completing the Waterford Greenway between Dungarvan and the City, and the third is the regeneration of Tramore town centre.”
He said: “Discussions with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform on a limited set of investments sought by Waterford City and County Council have been ongoing since late last year, and a decision is expected soon.”
This proposed stimulus package to help accelerate the city’s slow recovery involves a total ‘ask’ of over €14 million in terms of the Exchequer, and “while we’re still not sure how much money will be made available, we hope to get a good share of that,” Deasy added.
The rest of the €22m required will come from the local authority, who’ve made certain provision in their capital programme, and possibly some level of matching EU Regional Development Funding.
The North Quays — various plans for which have been mooted since 1998 — wasn’t prioritised in the expert group’s report underpinning last year’s council merger; though demolition work on the silos there is about to start.
Deasy said: “Once funding is secured for the priorities already identified, if there’s additional money made available under the new capital investment framework, then the development of the North Quays becomes a possibility.”
“The top priority remains the NAMA/Michael Street development (pictured) incorporating a glazed Apple Market area. There is an absolute necessity to develop a major retail sector in Waterford city.
“The second priority is completing the Waterford Greenway between Dungarvan and the City, and the third is the regeneration of Tramore town centre.”
He said: “Discussions with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform on a limited set of investments sought by Waterford City and County Council have been ongoing since late last year, and a decision is expected soon.”
This proposed stimulus package to help accelerate the city’s slow recovery involves a total ‘ask’ of over €14 million in terms of the Exchequer, and “while we’re still not sure how much money will be made available, we hope to get a good share of that,” Deasy added.
The rest of the €22m required will come from the local authority, who’ve made certain provision in their capital programme, and possibly some level of matching EU Regional Development Funding.
The North Quays — various plans for which have been mooted since 1998 — wasn’t prioritised in the expert group’s report underpinning last year’s council merger; though demolition work on the silos there is about to start.
Deasy said: “Once funding is secured for the priorities already identified, if there’s additional money made available under the new capital investment framework, then the development of the North Quays becomes a possibility.”
