Pressurise the IDA and Enterprise Ireland but we need University
Issued : Sunday 6 December, 2009
Areas : South East Region, Waterford, Wexford, South Tipperary and Carlow
Speaking following the call by Waterford Fianna Fail T.D. Brendan Kenneally for pressure to be kept up on the I.D.A. and Enterprise Ireland to deliver jobs for Waterford, Cllr. Jack Walsh of the Labour Party said “ Brendan Kenneally is right to call for pressure to be kept on the I.D.A. and Enterprise Ireland but he knows, that without a University in the South East, the state agencies are fighting with their hands tied behind their backs”.
“We only have to look at the job announcements by the I.D.A. for 2009 to realise that Waterford and the South East have been forgotten by this Government” Cllr. Walsh said.
“Despite the recession the I.D.A. have announced 2,650 new jobs by 46 Companies since January 2009” Cllr. Walsh stated. Dublin got 24 companies and 1,165 jobs, Cork got 8 companies and 875 jobs, Galway got 5 companies and 190 jobs, Limerick got one company and 134 jobs, 11 companies went to the rest of the country with 286 jobs. Waterford and the South East got none.
“Perhaps Deputy Kenneally should look closer to home to discover why we are not getting jobs in Waterford” Cllr. Walsh believes.
“The re-designation of Waterford Institute of Technology as the University of the South East is the crucial first step to the regeneration of the economy of the City and the Region”. Cllr. Walsh stated.
“This requires a political decision, the government has the power to do it, the case has been proven on educational, economical and social grounds. There is political support across the region. Why the government has failed the region on this important issue, defies logic”. Cllr. Jack Walsh said.
“The blame for the continued economic decline and the high rate of unemployment in the South East Region can be laid squarely at the feet of the government” Cllr Walsh concluded.
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