The Holy Trinity

Last week, Michael Doody, once and long-time Waterford City manager died. He did his best for this city. In October 1985, the Bannon Report recommended a university for Waterford. 

It was really well received locally and seen as vital in driving the city’s development. At that time, Galway had still not attained city status and was smaller than Waterford. NUIG was obviously driving the development of that town and Waterford’s place in the urban hierarchy as fourth city was under threat, as we suffered a ruinous dock labour strike. 

WIT was undeveloped as WRTC and neither UHW nor City Square existed. Our city was a shambles. The Glass reigned supreme and employment was 65% industrial and 35% services. Galway was the exact opposite 65% services and 35% industry.

I met Michael Doody in John Street in October 1985, and for a few minutes we discussed the Bannon Report and the possibility of UHW (then WRH) being built. His view, formed in the real world of local politics, was that neither development would happen. He believed that the south east obviously needed a university and a proper regional hospital, but that neither Kilkenny nor Wexford would support a Waterford location. That discussion led to this column which first appeared in October 1985.

Waterford has changed in the past 40 years, although the intraregional tensions have, if anything, worsened. Government attitude to Waterford has remained apathetic. Meanwhile, Galway entered a dynamic period of growth, driven by clear government policy decisions and strategic investment as private investment followed public. The same is true of Limerick city. Cork has grown strongly for political reasons, which don’t require elucidation. Waterford is just about treading water.

Michael Doody was a key figure in establishing Waterford Airport, which produced Ryanair. Ironically, the airport’s development is still in the balance, although planned expansion is to commence shortly. Last week’s front page highlighted the possible impact of a fully developed airport on Waterford, with particular emphasis on Foreign Direct Investment. The IDA was quick to highlight that. 

It’s amazing that they had nothing to say when the project to extend the runway was in the balance and Dublin Airport Authority, with 35 million passengers annually, was objecting to Bord Pleanála trying to stop it. Why would the DAA do this? A gigantic sledgehammer trying to kill an insect? Some malign political influence lurks in the background. Much the same could be said over the past 40 years about the need for a university in Waterford. 

The IDA is quick to highlight the benefit after the fact, of a nascent SETU, albeit it is still relatively undeveloped and without a cadre of professorial staff. The IDA was not heard from during the long campaign for university status. The unifying identifier about most developments in Waterford is the amount of effort and sometimes protest required to achieve anything. The long protest and campaigns for university status, 24/7 cardiology and proper infrastructure over the years, are in complete contrast to our one-time peer cities, where state investment just appears, Hey Presto! Can anyone recall a protest march ever in Galway or Limerick for anything? What doesn’t kill you makes you strong? Or else it just kills you! Despite the difficulties, a resilient Waterford city still keeps growing. For all its faults, it’s a good place to live.

Three elements are vital to the development of the city, UHW, SETU and FDI employment linked with transport infrastructure. Remember, when FG came to power in 2011 after the long run of high-profile investments here during Martin Cullen’s career as cabinet minister, these elements in Waterford came under severe pressure from politicians in other counties. WIT/SETU was starved of all investment. UHW services came under threat and transport investment in roads, port or airport came to a grinding halt, thus impacting FDI jobs. Everything is connected to everything else. Yes we have seen recent investment in the North Quays, in SETU and in UHW, the three pillars of our particular holy trinity, but new FDI lags incredibly far behind our once peer cities. 

Even worse, is the constant regurgitation by local politicians of the same three investments...North quays, SETU Engineering building and UHW surgical hub as if they represented a “Moses coming down from the mountain” moment. This was particularly noticeable at the opening of the new Frisby Office Development at Glassworks One. Government politicians reached again and again for the same things, with hints that future investment is on its way. 

When? Think for Heaven’s sake, all government initiated development is a process. It requires consecutive steps through the various procurement gateways - design feasibility, detailed design, planning permission, tenders and construction. If the steps are not happening, then nothing happens. We heard that a new Acute Mental Health Unit will be built at UHW and that a new health building will be built at SETU Cork Road but when it came to a recent actual announcement of new student accommodation we see Dublin, Cork and Galway leading the way with Waterford “to come later”.

Galway city has a confident foundation built on a strong university, a thriving Tech Uni, a huge regional Model 4 hospital and a very large FDI sector replete with 25,000 people in the medical devices sector. Confidence comes from the understanding and expectation of government support, which is how it should be for a developing regional city. It has just got planning for a €3billion 18km ring motorway. 

Waterford waits patiently for its share of whatever is going, ham sandwich, cheese blaa, sallylunn etc, whatever crumb is thrown at us. I would again remind our TDs, the local electorate and anyone else reading this that there is not a single active UHW, SETU or FDI project with current planning permission. A new UHW OPD, with planning since 2022, was disgracefully shelved without comment. Our ministers caved? And, a project to build a new centre at St Otteran’s for children with complex needs has been on the go for a decade without progressing. But of course our Ministers of State know that. Re-election on a diet of small fire stations, traffic calming schemes and sports grants while the real investment goes elsewhere looms?