A business delegation from the south-east has expressed satisfaction with commitments it says it received from the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, at a meeting in Dublin yesterday.
The Waterford Chamber of Commerce-led delegation met Mr Brennan and the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, for nearly two hours during which they outlined the need for improved road, rail and air access to the region. The group claimed that access problems are costing the region millions of euro and threatening jobs.
Speaking last night after the talks, the chamber president, Mr Frank O'Regan, said the delegation were "very happy" with the outcome. "Mr Brennan assured us that there would be no rail line closures in the south-east and said he was committed to the development of the rail freight business in the national interest.
"He also told us that he supported the development of the South East Regional Airport in Waterford and that he and the Government are fully committed to the development of the motorway-standard route between Dublin and Waterford. The aim is to see it completed by late 2006 or early 2007."
Earlier, Mr O'Regan described how the Waterford and south-east region is suffering serious socio-economic disadvantage.
"Without modern efficient access - by road, rail and air - the Gateway status conferred on Waterford in the National Spatial Strategy will not be worth the paper it is written on," Mr O'Regan said.
He pointed to research undertaken on behalf of the Waterford Chamber which demonstrates that the region is losing out on foreign direct investment and its share of National Development Plan (NDP) expenditure.
"Last year, of a national spend of €8.2 billion under the NDP, Waterford received just €20.5 million, a quarter of one per cent of the total," said Mr O'Regan.