Munster Express Online

Waterford must change its regional status in the European Union with respect to job creation according to Labour Party MEP Alan Kelly.

Mr Kelly is calling on the Government to seek a change to how Waterford is treated in the European Union so that the local economy can recover and people can get back to work.

Under the current rules, large companies are only allowed receive grant levels of 10 per cent of their start-up costs if they were to move to Waterford.

This can only change if the Irish Government makes an application to Brussels, which they must act upon promptly, in the MEP’s view.

“I raised this matter with the Commission and they told me they were open to changes but it is up to the Irish government to apply for any changes,” he said. “They only have until April 1st to do so.”

Mr Kelly continued: “The European Commission will use old figures from 2006 unless the Government asks them for a change but we live in a very different world to 2006.

“Cities like Waterford are competing with places like Poland for investment, where the Polish government is able to give over €50 million to companies like Dell and Proctor & Gamble. We must look for our own changes and we only have until April 1st to do so.”

Kelly believes the failure to apply for a change to these rules will leave both Waterford and Munster impeded when it comes to attracting jobs.