Waterford Council must get 'back to basics' with capital plan

A member of Waterford City & County Council has said the local authority needs to "get back to basics" with regard to its capital plan.

Sinn Féin's, Councillor Conor McGuinness, who will contest the next general election for his party in Waterford, has also called for a review of the capital plan.

Commenting on the matter to Waterford News & Star, Cllr McGuinness said there is an urgent need for the Council's capital plan to be reviewed.

He said that doing so would is "essential" in terms of paving the way for investment and development in Dungarvan and West Waterford in particular. He highlighted the need for infrastructure projects such a community centre, swimming pool, public toilets, footpaths and dredging of Cé Heilbhic and other locations in Dungarvan Bay.

“There is a newly elected Council, a new chief executive and a new senior management team," he said.

"From a governance point of view it would be timely and prudent to review the capital plan," he added.

He went on to comment: “Such a review would be a vital first step in finally getting Council backing for several essential developments in Dungarvan and West Waterford, including delivering a public swimming pool, public toilet facilities and a much-needed community centre; fixing footpaths, and getting Cé Heilbhic dredged."

“For too long Dungarvan and the wider county area has been let down when it comes to investment in infrastructure, often times when vast sums of public money are spent on apparent vanity projects for which there is no public demand," said Cllr McGuinness.

“There needs to be a sea-change in the way the Council prioritises projects for capital investment," he added

"I will continue to campaign for the essential infrastructure that our communities are crying out for, like community facilities, a public swimming pool, and a public toilet for Dungarvan."

Cllr McGuinness  went on to comment "there also needs to be a focus on bringing our footpaths up to an acceptable and safe standard".

"In the last Council I succeeded in getting West Waterford’s first standalone footpath repair budget but it was a drop in the ocean of what is needed," he said.

"A review of the capital plan needs to take into account the basic function of the Council to provide a safe and accessible public realm for all our citizens," he added.

He said it was a cause of "deep frustration" that Government "is still refusing to get Cé Heilbhic dredged".

"The indifference of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on this issue is lost on no one," he said.

"These works need to be high on the agenda in the capital plan, and hopefully a new Government will take a different approach and provide the necessary funding," he added.

"Waterford City & County Council needs to get back to basics and start listening to communities instead of chasing expensive vanity projects.”