A ‘game-changer for Waterford’: Government’s sign off today on a €600m business plan that will transform the city’s North Quays.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD has hailed as a ‘game-changer for Waterford’ Government’s sign off today on a €600m business plan that will transform the city’s North Quays.

The final business case was approved by ministers at a cabinet meeting this morning and will see the construction of a new train station, bridge, retail centre, hotel, conference facilities and food pavilion, along with hundreds of new homes and offices.

The ambitious project will open up access to Waterford city centre by foot, bike and train, while also unlocking the North Quays site for future development.

“This is an enormous shot in the arm for the southeast and will help confirm Waterford’s status as Ireland’s most dynamic regional city. Travelling in and out of the city and across the River Suir will never have been so easy. I’ve emphasised time and again at the highest levels in government the importance of this investment in breathing new life into Ireland’s oldest city,” Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said.

In total, the Government has allocated grant funding of €170m towards the project, with a further €450m in investment from the private sector.
Deputy Ó Cathasaigh welcomed the fact that Transport Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has allocated €70m in capital funding towards the project, in a sign of the Government’s commitment to Waterford and the southeast.

The project will see the relocation of Plunkett Station to a new location in the North Quays that will give it easy access to a new pedestrian, cycling and public transport bridge across the River Suir to the South Quays.
The new bridge will also offer a connection between the existing Waterford to Dungarvan Greenway and the proposed Waterford to New Ross Greenway.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh praised Minister Ryan and his fellow ministers for remaining committed to the project despite significant inflation in the construction sector.

“For too long, successive governments have neglected Waterford and the Southeast but Minister Ryan and his colleagues understand how important this project is for transforming the region. I’m glad they are putting their money where their mouth is and backing this ambitious project.”

In a further boost, the North Quays project was recently named as a “Pathfinder” project by Minister Ryan which means the construction of the bridge will be delivered within the next three years.