Conor D McGuinness: South East 'Flatlining' - Calls for Fair Investment
Conor D McGuinness warned that the South East is being underinvested, citing the South East Economic Monitor and accusing the IDA and government of neglect. He said the region's economy "is flatlining", highlighted low GDP and jobs figures, and asked the minister what will be done to end the imbalance and deliver fair investment to Waterford and the South East.
Monitor statistics
The latest South East Economic Monitor shows the region has 9% of the country's population but just 4% of national GDP, 5% of IDA-supported jobs and 1.8% of ongoing major public capital spending. Major public capital spending in the South East was reported at £1,738 per person, less than half the spend in the South West and 14 times less than Dublin.
Concerns about local economy and transport
McGuinness described the economy of the South East as "flatlining" and raised specific concerns about a lack of inward investment into Waterford, particularly in transport infrastructure. He said there is a perceived neglect from the IDA and from government when it comes to investment in the region.
Questions posed to the minister
He repeatedly raised the issue in Questions in the Dáil (QPL) and directly asked the minister what steps will be taken to address the imbalance and end the inequity. He also noted that the minister said he would come back separately to each deputy who had not received a response that day.
Call for fair investment
McGuinness pressed for concrete action to ensure Waterford and the wider South East receive their fair share of inward investment and major capital spending, framing the figures as evidence of regional disparity and urgent need for redress.
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The latest South East Economic Monitor shows that while the South East region has 9% of the country's population, it has 4% of national GDP, 5% of IDA-supported jobs and just 1.8% of ongoing major public capital spending. Now I've raised, at Tishik's questions in QPL with you several times, the lack of inward investment into Waterford in the South East, particularly in terms of transport. The economy of the South East is flatlining. There is a neglect from the IDA, there is a neglect from government when it comes to investment. Major capital spending in the South East is now the lowest of any region, receiving just £1,738 per person in major public capital investment, less than half of the spend in the South West and 14 times less than Dublin. Tishik, what are you going to do to address this imbalance, to end the inequity and to make sure that Waterford and the South East get the fair investment that they deserve? Tishik has said he will come back separately to each deputy that has not received a response today. Is that correct? Thank you.
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