Phoenix: An alternate universe?

While state-backed capital investments pour billions into favoured counties, the Decies are treated as an afterthought and major structural projects languish in perpetual administrative limbo. 

The real failure, however, lies in the lack of local accountability. 

Waterford currently holds influential positions within government, including the Chief Whip and junior ministries, yet this political representation has not translated into proportional delivery. In other counties junior ministers secure massive capital investments. In Waterford, our representatives seem more interested in managing public expectations and defending the party line than aggressively demanding our fair share of the national pie. Are they operating on a philosophy of "somebody else will fix it", assuming that the natural momentum of a project will carry it through without the need for political heavy-lifting? This political deafness is alienating the electorate and fostering deep cynicism.

The people of Waterford have every right to be cynical. For decades, the political narrative has blamed external factors for the city’s difficulties, but the current situation cannot be blamed on the past; it is the direct result of contemporary political choices. 

When our local representatives watch capital funding bypass Waterford, they are enabling the undermining of their own city. The continuous pattern of "deny, delay, and defend" must end. Waterford doesn’t need vague promises of future consideration. We need binding contracts, immediate capital allocations, and representatives who are willing to break ranks to defend the economic future of their community.

There was great news for Ireland last week with the announcement that chip manufacturer Intel will invest a further €5bn in its Leixlip plant. Global demand for AI and high-performance computing is driving the need for advanced silicon to power AI Factories, and Intel is adding capacity in Ireland which will bring hundreds of new jobs. 4,900 people are employed there. 

Imagine if the IDA could find its way through the impenetrable M9 jungles to us. The IDA had a record 513 new investments in Ireland in the past 18 months. One came to Waterford. This is a direct consequence of a national political elite that views Waterford as peripheral rather than as a national driver of growth. We are being systematically left behind by a Dublin-centric government, and our local representatives are failing to halt this inequity. 

David Cullinane tackled Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers in the Dáil last week on the state investment imbalance in Waterford. The reply was essentially “we’ll get back to you”. The standard response from government ministers to the investment disparity is a mix of silence, delays, and defensive excuses. We hear plenty of talk about "potential", but the facts tell a completely different story.

Just before the Intel announcement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin dropped home to Cork bearing another gift for UCC and the Tyndall Institute.

“Investment of more than €100 million will double Tyndall’s footprint and strengthen Ireland’s semiconductor and research capabilities,” according to the Dept. of Further Education. A mere bauble for Cork one supposes? 

After a 12-year slog of protest and lobbying, Waterford had a massive boost with the commencement of 24/7 emergency cardiology at UHW. This is huge for our Model 4 hospital and really ups its national profile. We should all be proud of that. 

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill announced the 24/7 development and was interviewed on radio by Damien Tiernan. An able lady, long on praise for UHW staff, cleverly disingenuous about extra beds and very short on news of the physical developments needed at UHW! 

A super new surgical hub in Maypark Lane will open before year’s end with four new operating theatres, a 50% increase on the number (8) UHW has had since 1993. 33 years with the same facilities, during a massive increase in population and demands on the hospital, says something about access to capital investment!

The monthly National Treatment Purchase Fund waiting list tells its own grim story. UHW has the fifth highest number (over 6,000) of people waiting for in-patient procedures after Galway UH, Beaumont, Mater and St James. Limerick UH has 3,000 people waiting. UHW has 48,000 people waiting for out-patient procedures, and is third nationally after Beaumont, 57,000 and Galway, 50,000. Limerick has 35,000 people waiting. 

While Minister McNeill did mention a welcome 67% staff increase and 40% budget increase since 2020, in line with major increases for most hospitals, UHW still lags in staff and budget behind all other Model 4 hospitals. 

The difference in capital allocations to our hospital over the past 10 years has been massive. 236 new beds have opened since 2020 at UHL, but none in UHW. None! 

UHW desperately needs extra capital investment, but all Waterford, ready to go acute and community health projects were pulled or deprioritised over the past 18 months.

Meanwhile, council CEO Sean McKeown was on WLR last week discussing the Ferrybank Shopping Centre. He can hardly be blamed for a situation 20 years in the making. Objecting to the centre has been a grave strategic, political and economic mistake. Urban planning in the city centre has simultaneously devolved into a waiting game. 

Ambitious plans for the North Quays development are frequently highlighted as the silver bullet for our city’s economy, yet we are without any real certainty of when these cross-Suir projects will fully materialize. Council’s ability to move projects in the historic centre is positively glacial. The long list of “we’re going to….” is awful, Parade Quay being a particularly instructive, 10-year-old heartbreak. Michael Street, New Street and Stephen Street hardly bear thinking about. Something has to break that impasse. Our council recently published its investment plan (€679m) for the next several years. Limerick will invest €2.4bn.

What has been built in the city centre in the past decade by our private sector? The Ardree Hotel, derelict for decades? All the empty property at the Car Stand and John Street, planning application after planning application and nothing done. Exchange Street car park, 25 years empty with 20 or so planning applications, yet nothing done. The wreckage of Powers Seeds on the Dunmore Road is like a World War II bomb site. Are the owners not ashamed? It’s our city. Local business must lead the way. It’s the economy folks.