Phoenix: Apolitical delivery

From general chats around town it’s safe to suggest that there is dissatisfaction with the local political dispensation. Our four-seat constituency copper-fastens inertia, so that a political party with core support, regardless of their delivery, will still likely take a seat. 

The rural/city divide between east and west Waterford also plays a huge role in elections. 

Austin Deasy once said that politicians in Waterford must remember that two-thirds of the constituency votes are east of Kilmeaden. Core Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael support across the county ensured that both parties took a seat in the last general election. 

The Sinn Féin vote of approximately 20,000 held firm and when combined with Dungarvan’s desire for a TD, seemingly regardless of party, it ensured that SF took two seats. It was never clear why this should happen, as being in opposition, SF can actually deliver nothing. But the circular argument goes, if nothing is being delivered anyway, people seek alternatives, in protest against systemic unfairness, in the hope of a fairer share of what’s going. Otherwise, it’s “Waiting for Godot”!

As there is no apolitical delivery of anything from government in this country, no list of agreed when, where and how, people look for representatives who promise hope. This suggests that the photo of Mary Butler and Micheál Martin in front of UHW promising 24/7 cardiology will haunt the party until it is delivered. 

That’s partly why Fianna Fáil entered the last general election with only one candidate and depended on core party support to win a seat. Ms Butler did not want a second FF candidate on the ticket as a split in the vote might, in my view, have gone against her. 

This unwillingness to field a second candidate results in a general lack of influence within the party and militates against the party/system delivering for Waterford. Why would you, when there is nothing to gain in seat terms? 

The situation is somewhat similar for Fine Gael’s John Cummins, although the fact that he fought and regained a seat makes the logic somewhat different. If Waterford is doing as well as the system continually tells us, then the pressure will be on both FF and FG to run two candidates next time.

During the last government this column was often quite critical of Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane's performance in failing to highlight Waterford issues in the Dáil. All politics is local, yet we had a constant diet of hospital issues in Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Cork or wherever, and often only a faint reference to UHW. Did the Sinn Féin party leader ever raise Waterford issues at leader’s question time? 

Sinn Féin now has two seats in Waterford and wants to retain them and is doing a politically natural pivot to Waterford issues. State investment deficits in Waterford from UHW to SETU to IDA Foreign Direct Investment are still in evidence. 

SETU academics have published South East Economic Monitor (SEEM) report data from government and CSO sources, to show that. As a result, it is heartening that Sinn Féin, even for their own electoral aims (as with all parties), have started, in the Dáil, to seriously expose the investment deficits in this area. We therefore now know that the Tech Uni sector has received €237 million in funding since its establishment and that SETU, with €31 million, received the smallest share. Mr Cullinane, rightly, says: "The South East continues to be short-changed when it comes to higher education infrastructure, despite the needs of students, staff, employers and our growing region. This unfair funding gap must be addressed, and investment in SETU must be stepped up. One project that must be prioritised is the One Health building earmarked for the new Glass site. It’s essential for expanding capacity and supporting health and life sciences in the South East and it needs to be fast-tracked now.” 

Having received zero capital funding for new buildings over 20 years, SETU Waterford is playing catch up with the rest of the system. The new engineering building being built on the Cork Road is welcome. Much more needs to be done.

The Irish Times last week covered a parliamentary question from Mr Cullinane about the number of IDA site visits to various counties in recent years. Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway figured in that order and then came Waterford. Everyone is aware of the steady drip of job losses in the local economy and the narrow local base of IDA supported industry. The 25,000 people working in Galway in the medical devices industry is an eye-opening comparison and demonstrates how far our once peer cities have outstripped us. 

The IDA may bring people here but it’s difficult to convert those visits into new industry without third-level investment on a par with Limerick or Galway. That’s a no brainer, FDI is a competitive process. Limerick and Galway have more than 25,000 third level students and two universities each in their areas. That’s a big attraction for any incoming employer. SETU/WIT needs urgent investment to reinforce its Tech Uni status and to enable us to compete.

And, Minister Butler tells us that the €52 million allocated to complete the UHW surgical hub is one of the largest capital allocations in the HSE 2026 Capital Plan. Unfortunately, only €2.1 million was allocated to Waterford to progress many other local projects, which have been stalled for years. 

The vertical OPD at UHW to replace the tin pre-fabs near the Emergency Department entrance has been cancelled. Its planning will lapse next year. I now understand that the proposed new UHW bed block is being kicked down the road to an uncertain future. 

UHW is the regional model 4 hospital. It must have facilities up to the level of the eight other model 4 hospitals in the country. Hitting the target with proper funding this year is very welcome and Ms Butler deserves credit, but there is a deficit, which must be bridged to ensure the people of Waterford and the South East have Model 4 facilities on a par with other regions.

Taoiseach Martin stated in the Dáil last week “I thank Deputy Cullinane for welcoming the €50 million for the surgical hub. He followed that up with a list of about four other projects that need to be completed as well.” We must keep up the pressure.