Statement from Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD on Waterford Crystal Site
“Not unexpected but really welcome news breaking this morning that the government has completed the acquisition of the Waterford Crystal site for the expansion of the SETU campus in Waterford. A lot of long and tricky political work was needed to get to this point, and I’m delighted to see it over the line.
The Waterford Crystal site has been a totem in many people’s eyes of Waterford’s fortunes. Many of us remember it in its heyday, a real statement for people approaching our city. In recent years, its dereliction has been a statement of a different kind
I’ve pushed hard for the acquisition of this site. I’ve always believed it’s the right place for our university to expand. It keeps it at the very heart of the communities I know it’s proud to serve – Lismore Park, Larchville, Ballybeg – but it also brings it closer now to the city centre. That will strengthen the connection between the students studying in SETU and Waterford City, with both an economic and a cultural benefit to both.
I regard this as the conclusion of the first Act in terms of building a University of substance for the people of the Southeast. We’ve established the University, we’ve made some very good appointments to key roles and we’ve now essentially doubled the footprint of the Waterford campus to provide for much needed growth. Now we have to push on, we have to deliver the capital investment to develop the site, to finally deliver the long-promised Engineering Building, to develop much-needed on-site student accommodation. And we have to push things on in terms of the academic offering as well. SETU has strong bids in for new schools of Vetenary and Pharmacy – I’ve made the case repeatedly to Min. Harris that Waterford would be an excellent choice for these school.
So, a good day, an important step, but none of us with an interest in developing a top quality university offering in Waterford City will be resting on our laurels, we’ll be pushing on from here.”
Statement from Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD on Waterford Crystal Site
“Not unexpected but really welcome news breaking this morning that the government has completed the acquisition of the Waterford Crystal site for the expansion of the SETU campus in Waterford. A lot of long and tricky political work was needed to get to this point, and I’m delighted to see it over the line.
The Waterford Crystal site has been a totem in many people’s eyes of Waterford’s fortunes. Many of us remember it in its heyday, a real statement for people approaching our city. In recent years, its dereliction has been a statement of a different kind
I’ve pushed hard for the acquisition of this site. I’ve always believed it’s the right place for our university to expand. It keeps it at the very heart of the communities I know it’s proud to serve – Lismore Park, Larchville, Ballybeg – but it also brings it closer now to the city centre. That will strengthen the connection between the students studying in SETU and Waterford City, with both an economic and a cultural benefit to both.
I regard this as the conclusion of the first Act in terms of building a University of substance for the people of the Southeast. We’ve established the University, we’ve made some very good appointments to key roles and we’ve now essentially doubled the footprint of the Waterford campus to provide for much needed growth. Now we have to push on, we have to deliver the capital investment to develop the site, to finally deliver the long-promised Engineering Building, to develop much-needed on-site student accommodation. And we have to push things on in terms of the academic offering as well. SETU has strong bids in for new schools of Vetenary and Pharmacy – I’ve made the case repeatedly to Min. Harris that Waterford would be an excellent choice for these school.
So, a good day, an important step, but none of us with an interest in developing a top quality university offering in Waterford City will be resting on our laurels, we’ll be pushing on from here.”
