22 separate projects earmarked for investment by Waterford Council in the wider Viking Triangle & Cultural Quarter areas
Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has doubled down on his lobbying efforts to secure funding for Waterford city under the latest round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. Under the scheme, Waterford city and county council made an application to government last year for €27.6 million in support towards a €48.5 million scheme to regenerate the Cultural Quarter and wider Viking Triangle areas.
Senator Cummins said “The government has obviously delivered a very significant investment via the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund already. A decision on the council’s €110 million ask for enabling infrastructure for the North Quay’s project was brought forward to November and that was obviously a hugely welcome vote of confidence in our city and its place as the primary economic driver of the South East region”.
“Naturally the level of support obtained from government for the North Quays makes a further significant ask of €27.6 million more difficult to achieve but I have been lobbying extensively for months to secure the maximum support possible for this project, which I believe will go a long way to finishing the Viking Triangle and regenerating the Cultural Quarter area of our city. I have held several high level meetings and I have been in constant dialogue with my colleague Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke”.
Under the significant plan Waterford City & County Council expect to spend nearly €12 million on seven projects in the wider Viking Triangle area, while In the Cultural Quarter area the Council expect to spend €36.6 million on fifteen projects. The Council’s vision is set out in a forty-five page document which seeks to “re-imagine a living city by returning to a people centric city centre where people want to live, work and play”.
Senator Cummins concluded by saying “this is a really ambitious regeneration project for Waterford City centre and I would like to commend the team at Waterford City & County Council for their vision. I firmly believe that this project, coupled with the North Quays will transform our city. As someone who lives in the city centre, I believe regenerating derelict and underutilised buildings for productive modern use is a win win for everyone and I look forward to a positive announcement on this application very soon. I understand Minister O’Brien will announce the South East URDF applications by early next week.