Conor D McGuinness: Demands Delivery on Waterford Infrastructure
Conor D McGuinness criticised the government for producing reports instead of delivering vital infrastructure for Waterford, arguing communities need concrete progress not glossy plans. He highlighted long-standing gaps on roads, rail, airport, water and local services and demanded dedicated funding and upgrades.
Road and rail projects
The speaker singled out upgrades to the N25 and the N72 as long overdue and said the N24 linking Waterford to the Midwest and the West has been discussed for decades with no funding or prospect of funding. He also noted the Waterford-Toross-Lear rail line has been dropped entirely from the National Rail Strategy.
Airport and university investment
Conor D McGuinness said Waterford Airport was denied government support and criticised the low capital allocation to Setia, which he said receives the lowest level of capital investment of any technological university.
Local harbours, roads and public buildings
He raised delays at Dalmary East Fisheries Harbour, falling maintenance of regional and local roads, and insufficient capital funding for schools, childcare and theanry - all of which he said are below projected population growth and actual demand.
Water and wastewater failures
The speech warned of routine pressure, boil water and do-not-consume notices and gave examples of Kilmeaden and Pallyduff currently without water and Tornina with inadequate supply. He called for a dedicated fund minister to deal with legacy water and wastewater failures and for estates built with inadequate supply or sewage capacity to be upgraded and taken in charge.
Impact on housing and communities
Conor D McGuinness argued that infrastructure failure is holding back housing and choking off development, naming Woodlands Estate and Port Law as examples - almost 90 homes on a group water scheme facing doubled annual fees and ongoing instability. He concluded that government must fix the basics - delivery, not another report or brochure.
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Once again, the government is talking about reports and plans while treading water when it comes to developing infrastructure. More glossy documents, little in the way of targets and timelines, and more false thorns, Minister. People roll their eyes because what communities need is delivery, not brochures, concrete progress, not press launches. In Waterford, the gaps are obvious. They're longstanding. My colleague David Cullinan and I have been raising them consistently. Safely upgrades to the N25 and the N72. They're long overdue, Minister. The N24 upgrades linking Waterford to the Midwest and the West has been talked about for decades, but still drifts with no funding and no prospect of funding. The Waterford-Toross-Lear rail line has been dropped entirely from the National Rail Strategy. Waterford Airport was shamefully denied government support. Setia receives the lowest level of capital investment of any technological university. Dalmary East Fisheries Harbour waits while opportunities are lost. And even basic maintenance of regional and local roads is falling behind. Schools, childcare and theanry are left without sufficient capital funding. They're falling far below projected population growth and actual population demand. The failure has consequences for real communities, families, people I represent. It's holding back housing in our towns and villages. It is choking off development where services simply cannot cope. And it's happening if we don't want to get by. That's why we're talking about fixing water costs. pressure, boil water notices and do-not-consume notices have become routine. Kilmeaden and Pallyduff are currently without water, Tornina is left without inadequate supply, crumbling infrastructure is holding back home building in Lismore and creating uncertainty for businesses, schools, childcare facilities and care homes there. We need to see a dedicated fund minister to deal with legacy water and wastewater failures. Estates built with inadequate supply or sewage capacity must be upgraded and taken in charge, and I think in particular of Woodlands Estate and Port Law, as one example, almost 90 homes on a group water scheme, facing doubled annual fees just this week, and instability and constant uncertainty when it comes to their water supply. So government needs to fix the basics before launching more glossy plans and congratulating itself. Delivery is what people need, not another brochure, not another report and not another round of back-slapping.
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