CLLR.  JOHN CUMMINS  ELECTED  CATHAOIRLEACH OF REGIONAL  AUTHORITY

Waterford City Councillor, John Cummins of Fine Gael has been elected as Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority for the coming year.  He succeeds Carlow County Councillor, Tom Kinsella (FG) who held the office for the past twelve months.  Cllr. Damien Geoghegan (FG), a member of Waterford County Council, has been elected as Leas-chathaoirleach.

Cllr. John Cummins, who was elected to the Waterford City Council in the June 2009 local elections, becomes the youngest person to hold the office of Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority.  His father, Senator Maurice Cummins, also served as a member of the Regional Authority from 1994
to 2003.

“I am grateful for being given the honour of serving as Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority and I look forward to directing the work of the Authority to continue promoting and advancing the socio-economic development of our region over the coming year”, the new Cathaoirleach stated as he assumed the office.

ENDS.

Cllr. Tom Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority, has expressed deepest sympathy on behalf of the members and staff of the Authority to the McLoughlin family on the untimely death of the late Cllr. Catherine McLoughlin.

Cllr. McLoughlin had been a member of the Regional Authority since 2009 and had been an active contributor to the work of the Authority in many areas, particularly in relation to regional strategic planning and regional and local development.

'Our sincere sympathy goes to her husband, Bob, and her family on their bereavement.  Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam', said the Cathaoirleach.

REGIONAL AUTHORITY OPPOSES CLOSING OF WATERFORD-ROSSLARE RAIL LINE BY IARNRÓD ÉIREANN

“The South-East Regional Authority strenuously opposes any proposals by Iarnród Éireann and CIÉ to close or downgrade any part of the South-East Region’s rail network”, so stated Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, in response to recent media reports that Iarnród Éireann will confirm a decision within the next few weeks to close the Waterford to Rosslare rail line.

“The Authority views the Region’s rail network, which is well developed and which serves all five counties and the five largest urban centres in the region, as a vital strategic transport asset.  As well as providing rail access to the region generally, it also serves the region’s two national ports at Rosslare Harbour and Waterford,” added Cllr. Kinsella.

“The Waterford-Rosslare rail line has been in operation since 1906”, said Cllr. Kinsella. He also stated: “Iarnród Éireann blames the lack of revenue generated to cover the operating costs of the line for the closure, but I believe that this planned closure represents the abject failure of the company to provide an adequate service at times that meet the public need”.

The Regional Authority has, since its establishment in 1994, continually called for the upgrading and improvement of the network.  This position has been forcefully articulated by the Authority in its Regional Strategy. “New rail lines have been opened or are in the pipeline in the South-West and Mid-West regions. Why is the South-East region being treated differently? The region will clearly be disadvantaged and marginalised by this decision”, outlined Cllr. Kinsella.

“I, on behalf of my Authority and the residents of the South-East region, will immediately be seeking a meeting with senior Iarnród Éireann management and with the Minister for Transport to outline the Authority’s opposition to this plan and to seek its complete reversal”, stated Cllr. Kinsella. 

ENDS
16/03/2010

“The South-East Regional Authority strenuously opposes the plans by the Department of Transport to downgrade the Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service provided at Waterford Regional Airport for the South-East and farther afield”, so stated Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority in response to media reports that the service is to be reduced by the Department of Transport in 2012 to a 12-hour, daylight only service.

“The Coast Guard helicopter based at Waterford provides a 24/7/365 maritime and coastal rescue service, locating persons in distress or imminent risk, providing immediate medical treatment where required and evacuating them to an appropriate place of safety”, stated Cllr. Kinsella. He continued, “the Department’s decision will mean that there will be no night-time search and rescue helicopter available along the eastern, south-eastern, southern and south-western coasts between Dublin and Shannon”.

“The South-East has witnessed a number of maritime tragedies in recent years and the importance of the search and rescue service cannot be overstated. This is very much a retrograde step on behalf of the Department of Transport and makes very little economic sense if, as reported, this downgrading will result in a mere €1m saving per annum for the Exchequer”, said Cllr. Kinsella.

“I, on behalf of my Authority and the residents of the South-East region, will immediately be seeking a meeting with the Minister for Transport to outline the Authority’s opposition to this plan and to seek its complete reversal”, stated Cllr. Kinsella.

ENDS
15/03/2010

“The South-East Regional Authority calls on the Government to immediately make the South-East Region a priority area for employment creation and industrial investment”.
So stated Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority, in reaction to recent reports published by the Central Statistics Office - County Incomes and Regional GDP 2007 and Quarterly National Household Survey for Q3/2009.

The GVA figures show that in 2007, GVA per person in the South-East was 73.4% of the State average, which is the 4th lowest of all the regions.

The unemployment figures show that for Q3/2009, the South-East has the highest unemployment rate (15.1%) of the eight Irish.

The disposable income per person in the South-East region was 4.4% below the State average in 2007 – the lowest of the five regions in the Southern and Eastern NUTS II Region.

“The Regional Authority is extremely concerned at the poor performance of the South-East Region and believes that this can only be reversed if the Government, and in particular the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, together with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland intervene in a positive way”, added Cllr. Kinsella.

Since its establishment, the South-East Regional Authority has been to the forefront in identifying and articulating the deficiencies, development needs and investment priorities of the region. There is a widespread misconception that the South-East Region is a wealthy region and that it is performing well economically. This is clearly not the case as can be seen from the range of regional socio-economic indicators. “Recent high-profile job losses in other parts of the country, whilst very unfortunate, should not reduce the necessity for urgent action to address this region’s economic problems”, said Cllr. Kinsella.

“The Regional Authority demands that the Government honours one of the key objectives in the National Development Plan, i.e. to provide for more balanced regional development. All industrial and enterprise development agencies should be instructed to make the South-East Region their priority,” Cllr. Kinsella stated.

ENDS
4th February 2010

“On behalf of the South-East Regional Authority and the people of South-East Ireland, I offer my deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Haiti and, most especially, to the families of all who lost their lives and were injured in the devastating earthquake that struck that country on 12th January”.

Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority, in offering sympathy on this global disaster of horrendous proportions spoke of his shock and horror at the unprecedented scale of the loss of life and devastation of the country and of entire communities in Haiti. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time” he stated.

Cllr. Kinsella urged the Irish government to provide maximum financial and other support for the relief effort and he appealed to the Irish people to give generously to the aid agencies to enable them to help the country to try and recover from this awful catastrophe.

“I know that the people of the South-East will not be found wanting in joining the Irish nation’s contribution towards the international relief effort to deal with the dreadful effects of the Haitian earthquake”, Cllr. Kinsella said.

Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach

“The South-East Regional Authority strenuously opposes and disapproves of the recommendation and proposal contained in the “McCarthy Report” to abolish the State’s regional government structure by getting rid of Regional Authorities”, so stated Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, following the submission by the South-East Regional Authority of a response on the “McCarthy Report” to the Departments of Finance and Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

“It is clearly recognised in Government policies, discussion documents and particularly in existing and proposed legislation that a development co-ordination role is required at regional level. The established Regional Authorities are the only bodies with any electoral mandate to perform this role, as they have been doing since their inception”, said Cllr. Kinsella. “Since the Planning and Development Act was enacted in 2000 this role has been placed on a firm statutory footing and it is clear from the 2009 Planning and Development Bill, currently being considered by the Oireachtas, that the Government believes that significantly enhanced powers and duties are necessary for Regional Authorities”, continued Cllr. Kinsella.

“The abolition of the Regional Authorities would make no sense in this context, particularly when account is taken of the minimal amount that they cost, the non-exchequer funding that they generate through their EU work and the even more enhanced role that they can play in the future as integrated and co-ordinated activity at regional level becomes more and more necessary to ensure a sustainable and competitive investment environment in the country’s regions”, stated Cllr. Kinsella.

ENDS
20/10/2009

“The N24 Prioritisation Study clearly illustrates the undeniable case for the priority upgrading of the N24 National Primary Route in the NRA’s post-2010 Roads Programme”. So stated Cllr. Paddy O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, following the unanimous adoption by the South-East Regional Authority of the Report at its meeting held on 26th May in Dungarvan.

“The Regional Authority considers the N24 to be one of the key economic infrastructural drivers of the regional economies of the South-East and Mid-West”, said Cllr. O’Callaghan. “The Authority is aware that the focus at present is on completion of the 5 Major Inter-Urban Routes to Dublin. However, it is critically important for the economic well-being of both regions that the Route is clearly prioritised now by the Minister for Transport and National Roads Authority for immediate upgrading in the post-2010 Roads Programme”, continued Cllr. O’Callaghan.

The Regional Authority has long been concerned at the relatively weak economic performance of the South-East. It is performing poorly when compared to other Irish regions under a range of socio-economic headings. The Regional Authority has consistently identified and articulated the region’s overall development needs and investment priorities.

“This Report, whilst clearly making the case for the N24 as a whole, also recognises that certain sections of the route are under much higher levels of congestion and pressure and calls for these to be constructed firstly. These include the Tipperary Bypass, the Clonmel to Cahir Section, the Carrick-on-Suir Bypass and the Mooncoin Bypass”, outlined Cllr. O’Callaghan.

“We in the South-East Regional Authority will be working with our colleagues in the Mid-West and with the six local authorities whose functional areas the route passes through to ensure that this issue receives the proper focus and attention by the Minister for Transport, the Government and the National Roads Authority. We will furthermore be lobbying the Oireachtas members in both Regions to ensure that priority upgrading is given to the N24”, stated Cllr. O’Callaghan.

ENDS.

11/06/2008

REGIONAL AUTHORITY PROMOTES THE CO-ORDINATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFORD ESTUARY

“The Waterford Estuary has the potential to be a significant economic driver for the entire South-East region. In addition, the Estuary has a role as an amenity and ecological resource for an expanding and increasingly developed Waterford city and region.  The maximisation of this amenity potential and unique setting for the benefit of all will be a challenge”, so stated Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, today (Thursday 20th May) at a conference in Waterford City organised by the South-East Regional Authority as part of the European Union’s European Maritime Day 2010.
 
“It is the Regional Authority’s objective that today’s proceedings will promote the development of a strategic methodology and framework for the sustainable coordinated development and management of the Estuary,” added Cllr. Kinsella.

The European Maritime Day is now an annual event with the key stakeholder event taking place this year in Gijón, Spain under the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. Innovation for sustainable growth of maritime sectors and coastal regions is its main focus. In addition, events are being organised across the EU in parallel with the Gijón event, the Regional Authority’s event in Waterford City being one of them.

“Maritime affairs have significant importance in the South-East – think of our major freight and passenger ports at Rosslare, New Ross and Waterford; our fishing industry; our rivers and lakes, our coastal areas in counties Wexford and Waterford. Only very recently we saw how this association was reinforced through the successful campaign to retain the Region’s full-time coastguard service at Waterford Regional Airport” commented Cllr. Kinsella.
 
“The Estuary faces many challenges and pressures and today’s proceedings will show how marine spatial planning can assist and facilitate consultation between competing interests, co-ordinated development and integrated management approaches”, stated Cllr. Kinsella. 

________________________________________ ________________________________________

Further information from:
- Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, Cathaoirleach, South-East Regional Authority
 (059) 9775398 (087) 9377386
- Mr. Thomas Byrne, Director, South-East Regional Authority
 (052) 6126200

Presentations from Conference

( 2,876 kbs) Dr. Shane O'Boyle - EPA
( 827 kbs) Mr. Michael Walsh - Waterford City Council
( 566 kbs) Mr. Micheal O'Briain - European Commission
( 4,357 kbs) Mr. Stan McIlvenny - Port of Waterford
( 8,006 kbs) Mr. Steve Conlon - Irish Marine Federation
( 717 kbs) Mr. Tom Byrne - SERA
( 21 kbs) Mr. Tom Kinsella, Cathaoirleach - SERA
( 3,844 kbs) Ms. Barbara Fogarty - seaChange Management Unit
( 3,041 kbs) Ms. Kaja Curry - Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum