Munster Express Online

According to the most recent figures available, 7,817 people were on the Live Register in for County Waterford on 30 September 2008, Labour Deputy Brian O’Shea told the Dail.

Speaking on a Budget debate, he said the comparable figures for 2007 and 2006 were 5,303 and 5319, respectively. The number on the Live Register increased by 47% or 2,500 people in the year to the end of September. Unfortunately, all the indications are that the October figure will be considerably worse than the figure for the previous month.

“Following the September returns by the Department of Finance, it was projected that the shortfall in tax revenue for the year would be €6.5 billion,” he said. “This is probably an optimistic forecast because it is probable that we will have another budget in the New Year. It has been suggested, for example, that the shortfall could be as much as €9 billion. In such circumstances, it is vital that we plan and prepare for the eventual upturn in the global economy.”

In his constituency and all the constituencies in the south east, including that of the Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, the issue of greatest concern was the need to establish a university in the region.

Absence of University

“This issue was not addressed in the Budget,” he said. “In answer to a Parliamentary Question tabled a few weeks ago, the Minister indicated a decision would be made in the coming weeks on applications submitted by three Institutes of Technology in Dublin, Cork and Waterford to have their status upgraded to that of university.

“The absence of a university in the South East is holding back the region, which continues to suffer from the loss of traditional industrial jobs,” he said. “Unless the south-east has the capacity to develop jobs in the knowledge economy based on top class research and development, its future will be bleak.”

The University of the South East being sought by his region differed from that being sought in Cork and Dublin. The concept was based on a hub campus in Waterford with satellite campuses throughout the region. While this was a novel proposal, it would undoubtedly work. There was a general conviction throughout the south-east that a university, above everything else, was what it needs to prosper.