My during
my time to date in Waterford there have been a number of issues constantly
courting media attention. Cementing Waterford City as the economic gateway to
the South East. Delivering University status for the WIT and not may I add to this
argument not a fudged “Technological” status. The full Scotch Bonnet chilli
version, with ALL the associated kudos. More importantly, with the necessary funding
bells and whistles. Giving our youth the very same third level opportunities to
enrol at a REAL university, just like the other four cities in Ireland. A
regional hospital which provides “Adequate” services for the half a million
population in the region. Finally, our fare share of IDA Foreign Direct
Investment into Waterford, to service our economy.
The recently
published statistics, by the IDA themselves, detailing activity for 2017 are
inexcusable and indefensible. Only “Four”, yes “4”, visits in the first six
months of this year! Quite clearly we need to work harder on our visibility. Not
only did our NHS mobile catheterisation laboratory struggle to find us, but the
IDA is now having trouble pinpointing Waterford on an Ordnance Survey map.
If Ireland
Inc’s economic recovery is “Well underway”, according to Leo, it’s
incomprehensible that Waterford has received only 0.016% of total potential FDI
visits. Why is our Government Minister and absent TD, not screaming and
shouting about this s*”@e statistic?
My
calculator actually coughed with embarrassment, when trying to work out such a
low, low percentage! No matter how much spin you put on this figure, it must
indisputably show that Waterford is being ignored and quite literally wiped off
the map, in terms of REAL regional development.
Yet, it is
against this myopic back drop, we are seeing Local Property Tax to be increased
by 2.5 % in 2018. The suggested proposal was 10%!!!! Commercial Rates will
likely face a significant increase, in the forthcoming final Council budgetary
meetings. Where are the people living who are making theses decision on our
behalf? Are they living in such a cosseted, cocooned financial bubble that
increases are irrelevant, given their own financial circumstances?
Last week I
wrote about the Council’s very own Indecon Report. This delivered an irrefutable
argument for central exchequer funding, for our Strategic Development Zone on
the North Quays. This report outlined just how tough our current economic
circumstances are. When you add in the lack of IDA interest in Waterford, is it
any wonder that our fragile economic recovery is miles behind the rest of
Ireland? It cannot come as any surprise, that we have some of the lowest
disposable incomes of any of the regions.
Yet, we
constantly allow others to take more and more of our hard earned cash from our
pockets, without as much as a whimper!
Lots of
people are shocked and annoyed about having to pay more LPT and many have told
me this is the case. Has anyone actually contacted their local Councillor and
asked them “Why my LPT is going up?” “What is the increase actually paying
for?” I am sure we would all, albeit reluctantly, pay a little bit more if this
would ensure better services, better roads, better footpaths etc. Is that what
this increase is essentially paying for? Are there not indications that all
these budgetary lines are remaining the same, as in 2017?
Last week,
we also saw the release of the much lauded National Planning Framework
document, showing many new key performance indicators for Waterford. Regrettably,
the language used, is once again far too vague on delivery. I for one, won’t be
holding my breath, awaiting these miracles, for I’d surely suffocate!
Our perplexing
ability, not to question so many of these issues, ensures that we will continue
to remain on the bottom rung of the funding ladder.
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