“A region moving forward”

By Dan Walsh

The Ireland South East Development Office (ISEDO) has welcomed the significant government investment announced for the South East region this week. Waterford’s North Quays is to benefit from over €110 million in funding after the Government signed off on funding for the redevelopment project.

Earlier this week it was announced that the South East Greenway – which will run from New Ross to Waterford, and through the North Quays development to connect with the Waterford Greenway – received €9 million in funding. The Greenway is a joint initiative of the Waterford, Wexford, and Kilkenny local authorities while the North Quays project involves infrastructural works to be progressed by both Waterford and Kilkenny local authorities.   

Chairman of the Ireland South East Development Office, Frank O’Regan, said the funding was testament to the continued good work being carried out by all stakeholders in the region, and the increased collaboration between the local authorities. “These two important projects are another step towards achieving our vision of creating a vibrant and innovative region with sustainable economic growth”, added Mr. O’Regan.

“The funding is a further vote of confidence in the region and can be a catalyst for future development. The Financial Times have recently ranked us as the top small European region for FDI Strategy and placed in the top ten for Region of the Future. Many innovative projects are being advanced under the auspices of the Regional Enterprise Plan. The forthcoming merger of Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow to form the Technological University of the South East is another key driver. “And when you combine all those developments with the other urban transformational projects that are underway, including the Abbey Quarter development in Kilkenny, Trinity Wharf in Wexford, and the increased connectivity between these places, you start to see that the region is moving towards properly meeting the needs of a growing population,” he concluded

ISEDO is a local authority initiative which works with leaders of the major regional industries as well as the Chief Executives of the councils of the five counties in the South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford) and other public and private stakeholders. Its priority is to make the South East the first choice for business, careers, inward investment and tourism.