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Merger of Waterford VECs with Wexford

fuzzy dunlop

http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/mhojcwqloj/

It looks like Waterford and Wexford VEC's are being merged. A concerned worker in County Waterford VEC seems to think Wexford will be chosen for the HQ because of Brendan Howlin. Understandable as he has form for this. Does anybody care? If not they should as this could affect many of our schools.

Time for Paudie,John and Ciara to start earning their salaries methinks.

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dayshah

comeraghs wrote: »

Michael D Higgins & Ciara Conway will be at The Park Hotel in Dungarvan tomorrow @ 3ish! If you are in the area ... get in there & demand an explanation! This decision should be reversed!

I think the point should be made that this isn't about what's good for Waterford, no-one else gives a fvck about that.

This is about what's good for the country. The 'new way' of doing politics is just about putting HQs in a minister's constituency, regardless of spatial planning or efficiency of the public service. It is more efficient for the HQs to be in one location. We need an integrated education system, and that needs the VEC's HQ to be located near to WIT so they can have meetings with other education professionals, without spending 40 minutes in a taxi.

comeraghs

This VEC caters for people from Tallow/Clahmore to Gorey! Waterford City is the geographical centre & the population centre! I had hoped that this Govt would be better than FF but I'm starting to lose faith.

jmcc

Labour = Fianna Fail lite.
Fine Fail = Fianna Gael.

Regards...jmcc

fuzzy dunlop

Smiley Burnett wrote: »

Waterford is HQ for "The Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly", yet the work and activities of this body is NEVER covered by the media!! (DUBLIN was overlooked for this HQ)
This particular body ensured that Waterford Crystal on The Mall received 1.5 Million in EU Funding, yet there was very little coverage in the media!!!
It's not all doom and gloom in Waterford!!!!!!!!!!!

What kind of f*cking quisling are you at all? Dublin wasn't overlooked.It was a compromise because it was halfway between Cork and Dublin and it also happened twenty odd years ago. Stop making excuses for your party and admit that this was done for one simple reason. Parochialism! New Era me hole!

Bards

anyone like to guess where the HQ of the University of the S.E is going to be should WIT ever get upgraded? If FG are still in power then my guess is Kilkenny with Phil Hogan pulling the strings

Sully

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

Sully you're making excuses for your party. This is a cabinet decision therefore it's collective cabinet responsibility which means FG are responsible as well.We had enough of this "It's not me guv" from FF over the years.If Coffey can't get this overturned or at least put a major spotlight on this then he is useless.

I have and will always knock a party or person I back if appropriate. I'm just pointing out something many people overlook. Labour wont have it all their way, neither will Fine Gael. You don't know what went on in the cabinet meeting, neither do I. But with every topic discussed its not a matter of "Arah, shove it over there" and everyone agrees. With a lot, concessions are made and id be hopeful if WIT is seen as a University that we will be given the top spot.

At the same time - many of the folk here wont complain to their TD, many wont write into the papers, and many wont protest strongly about it. So a bit of slack online wont really bother anybody.

Also, Paudie Coffey and John Deasy were quick to hit back at this on the announcement. I have yet to hear anything remotely of substance from Ciara Conway. A small press release didn't cut it.

Ciara Conway wrote:

News that the headquarters of the new Waterford/ Wexford VEC will not be headquartered in Waterford is very disappointing.

I strongly believe that as Waterford City is the natural mid-point in an area that stretches from Tallow to beyond Gorey, the headquarters should have been located here. I have spoken to Minister Quinn about this and have asked him to provide me with details about the rationale for this decision.

I would be fearful that this will further erode confidence in the city and the county, coming in the wake of a series of job loss announcements such as those in TalkTalk, Waterford Crystal, Waterford Stanley, and pharma group Teva.

I am somewhat assured that jobs will be retained permanently in Waterford City and Dungarvan’s sub-offices, but there can be no getting away from the fact that this decision will be seen as a setback locally.

As someone with the best interests of the Waterford people at heart, I will continue to fight to put the needs of this constituency first, but I am very concerned at this decision, given the dire straits we’re in at the moment.

Source: http://www.labour.ie/ciaraconway/news/131782801015045307.html

Absolutely dire press release.

Bards

I agree it is a shocking press release.

Even if we were not the midway point between West Waterford and North Wexford. This Regional HQ Should be positioned in the Regional Capital which is the largest population centre (by far) in the Region.

I have highlighted a few key points and removed the words that tone down her speech from her press release below
========================================================================================

News that the headquarters of the new Waterford/ Wexford VEC will not be headquartered in Waterford is very disappointing.Shocking

I strongly believe that as Waterford City is the natural mid-point in an area that stretches from Tallow to beyond Gorey, the headquarters should have been located here.

I have spoken to Minister Quinn about this and have asked him to provide me with details about the rationale for this decision.

I would be fearful This this will further erode confidence in the city and the county, coming in the wake of a series of job loss announcements such as those in TalkTalk, Waterford Crystal, Waterford Stanley, and pharma group Teva.

I am somewhat assured that jobs will be retained permanently in Waterford City and Dungarvan’s sub-offices - Why the need for a merger then?

but there can be no getting away from the fact that this decision will be seen as a setback locally. - Talk about under stating the case.

As someone with the best interests of the Waterford people at heart - You could have fooled me, I will continue to fight to put the needs of this constituency first, but I am very concerned at this decision, given the dire straits we’re in at the moment.

Sully

The one word that stuck out like a sore thumb for me was "disappointing". It read more like a press release for the sake of it without pissing off the party.

Bards

Sully wrote: »

The one word that stuck out like a sore thumb for me was "disappointing". It read more like a press release for the sake of it without pissing off the party.

Exactly, my thoughts too, she seems to care more about the party than her constituents, but I suppose that goes for most of the TD's in Leinster House!

Psychedelic

So they're saying the decision to select Wexford is because their VEC gets more funding than Waterford and the population of Wexford is larger.

Minister says VEC decision based on size
The Minister for Training and Skills says more people are served by the VEC in Wexford than in Waterford. The government's decision to place the headquarters of the amalgamated VECs of Waterford City, Waterford County and Wexford in Wexford Town has been widely criticised locally. Many politicians, including members of the government parties, attributing the move to the presense of Wexford's Brendan Howlin at the cabinet table.

However when questioned on the matter by Sinn Fein's David Cullinane, Ciaran Cannon told the Seanad that the VEC in Wexford is bigger. The Minister went on to say that Wexford is growing faster than Waterford Senator Cullinane maintained that the government is not taking Waterford's Gateway status seriously

http://www.wlrfm.com/news-and-sport/waterford-news/131414.html

Mongarra

Article in this week's Wexford papers saying night classes in Enniscorthy VEC have to be cancelled as the funding for a caretaker is not available. And they want to move the HQ of the 3 VEC's to Wexford!

Yes Boss

Did anyone attend the Park Hotel yesterday evening? If so, was this issue raised?

Also as a by-the-way, do we need to wait until the next election to make our TDs accountable? What else can be done at a local level other than emailing, Facebooking, Tweeting etc the relevant TDs?

fuzzy dunlop

Sully wrote: »

I have and will always knock a party or person I back if appropriate. I'm just pointing out something many people overlook. Labour wont have it all their way, neither will Fine Gael. You don't know what went on in the cabinet meeting, neither do I. But with every topic discussed its not a matter of "Arah, shove it over there" and everyone agrees. With a lot, concessions are made and id be hopeful if WIT is seen as a University that we will be given the top spot. .

Well you would want to start knocking your party now instead of playing Labour as the mudguard and admit that this is a betrayal of the highest order..This isn't a case of FG or Labour policy.This is a case of FG and Labour allowing two of their cabinet ministers show favouritism to their constituencies i.e parochialism contrary to good strategic planning. FG can stop this if they want to.I notice your using the same lily livered language that you used to describe Paudies prospects of a cabinet position now to describe the prospects of WIT.Interesting indeed! Like I said a line needs to be drawn here and if this is not reversed then it simpley means Waterford has no influence at all in the government. FFS we are unique in being the only city having their VEC merged with a neighbouring county.I'll say it again New Era me hole.

BTW Paudie has done SFA on this Deasy was the man off the blocks which I notice you are now happy to have him. A week is a long time in politics.

Yes Boss

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

Well you would want to start knocking your party now instead of playing Labour as the mudguard and admit that this is a betrayal of the highest order..This isn't a case of FG or Labour policy.This is a case of FG and Labour allowing two of their cabinet ministers show favouritism to their constituencies i.e parochialism contrary to good strategic planning. FG can stop this if they want to.I notice your using the same lily livered language that you used to describe Paudies prospects of a cabinet position now to describe the prospects of WIT.Interesting indeed! Like I said a line needs to be drawn here and if this is not reversed then it simpley means Waterford has no influence at all in the government. FFS we are unique in being the only city having their VEC merged with a neighbouring county.I'll say it again New Era me hole.

BTW Paudie has done SFA on this Deasy was the man off the blocks which I notice you are now happy to have him. A week is a long time in politics.

None of our 4 TDs should be pointing fingers at this time. They should be working together in order to deliver for our City and stop trying to score Political points.

fuzzy dunlop

Yes Boss wrote: »

None of our 4 TDs should be pointing fingers at this time. They should be working together in order to deliver for our City and stop trying to score Political points.

This "working together" is a BS statement that politicians use to hoodwink the peasents. Presumably this is what they were doing all along or so we have been told and it has not prevented the very thing I and a sh*tload of people had warned would happen. Conway, Coffey need to be screaming from the rooftops and threatening back bench rebellion instead of preaching to the choir with their mealy mouthed statements to the local media.We need action not "representations". If you think I'm making political points so be it. The flipside of that is that you and others are making a political defense of the indefensible and by extension gombeen scum like Howlin.

Yes Boss

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

This "working together" is a BS statement that politicians use to hoodwink the peasents. Presumably this is what they were doing all along or so we have been told and it has not prevented the very thing I and a sh*tload of people had warned would happen. Conway, Coffey need to be screaming from the rooftops and threatening back bench rebellion instead of preaching to the choir with their mealy mouthed statements to the local media.We need action not "representations". If you think I'm making political points so be it. The flipside of that is that you and others are making a political defense of the indefensible and by extension gombeen scum like Howlin.

If your interpretation of my post was that I supported any of the TDs then you truly are ignorant and should stop trying to score points for some loony fringe party (which i deduct from your post you are a member of)...The only way out of this is if they actually work together, even step down together and not working as individuals or for the Party.

fuzzy dunlop

Yes Boss wrote: »

If your interpretation of my post was that I supported any of the TDs then you truly are ignorant and should stop trying to score points for some loony fringe party (which i deduct from your post you are a member of)...The only way out of this is if they actually work together, even step down together and not working as individuals or for the Party.

What Looney fringe party would that be?There is at least three posters here that know me and can confirm I have no time for fringe parties socialist or otherwise.So don't be trying to censor opinion with political slurs. Unlike some of the hacks on this site this I never canvassed for a party in my life.And do pray tell inform us how the 3 td's can stand down together without pointing fingers? By the way I started this thread nearly 3 months ago and called it correctly so none of our td's can be surprised by the event. They had plenty of time and forewarning to make it known that they would make a robust protest if this was done.Also unless your a moderator dont attempt to tell me to do anything regarding what you might thing is political point scoring.

Yes Boss

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

What Looney fringe party would that be?There is at least three posters here that know me and can confirm I have no time for fringe parties socialist or otherwise.So don't be trying to censor opinion with political slurs. Unlike some of the hacks on this site this I never canvassed for a party in my life.And do pray tell inform us how the 3 td's can stand down together without pointing fingers? By the way I started this thread nearly 3 months ago and called it correctly so none of our td's can be surprised by the event. They had plenty of time and forewarning to make it known that they would make a robust protest if this was done.Also unless your a moderator dont attempt to tell me to do anything regarding what you might thing is political point scoring.

I see you have gone off on one again. For clarity - I don't support any particular party either; therefore, my opinion is equally as valid as your opinion. In addition, your use of the english language to argue your point is sensationalist and over the top. Now if you want to critique what I said on this topic - read all my previous posts please because your interpretation is wrong!

fuzzy dunlop

Yes Boss wrote: »

I see you have gone off on one again. For clarity - I don't support any particular party either; therefore, my opinion is equally as valid as your opinion. In addition, your use of the english language to argue your point is sensationalist and over the top. Now if you want to critique what I said on this topic - read all my previous posts please because your interpretation is wrong!

Well suck it up because me being "sensationalist" or "over the top" is your opininion and only that.On the substantivce issue of the thread you've posted nothing that has shown me to be incorrect. By the By for someone who is well aware of their own entitlements regarding "their" opinion you don't seem to realise everyone else has the same right.So my use of language is none of "your" business. Keep your own side of the street clean before you try to moderate anyone elses posts.

Yes Boss

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

Well suck it up because me being "sensationalist" or "over the top" is your opininion and only that.On the substantivce issue of the thread you've posted nothing that has shown me to be incorrect. By the By for someone who is well aware of their own entitlements regarding "their" opinion you don't seem to realise everyone else has the same right.So my use of language is none of "your" business. Keep your own side of the street clean before you try to moderate anyone elses posts.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:rolleyes:

fuzzy dunlop

Yes Boss wrote: »

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:rolleyes:

Wow! You really told me:D

fuzzy dunlop

There is a letter in the News & Star this week outlining the gravity of this decision. This explains the implications for anyone who thinks this is some trivial little Quango.

http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/mhojqlidgb/

jmcc

If this goes through then Waterford should finish Labour as a party in this county and consign it to the dregs of history.

Regards...jmcc

fricatus

WLRFM wrote:

However when questioned on the matter by Sinn Fein's David Cullinane, Ciaran Cannon told the Seanad that the VEC in Wexford is bigger. The Minister went on to say that Wexford is growing faster than Waterford Senator Cullinane maintained that the government is not taking Waterford's Gateway status seriously

This is a load of horsesh1t for two reasons:

1. It's no longer two separate VECs. It's one VEC, covering a larger territory than before, and the logical place to put the HQ is in the largest population centre in that unified territory. The fact that the largest population centre is also ideally located from a geographical, infrastructural and spatial point of view is an added factor that should support the HQ being in Waterford.

2. So what if Wexford is growing faster than Waterford? Surely that means that locating the HQ in Waterford would be a support to a place that's potentially falling behind? A point worth bearing in mind is that Wexford's population growth in 2006-2011 includes a lot of commuters who moved to Gorey from Dublin. If anything, that factor is going to stagnate or go into reverse now (same with the fastest-growing county, Laois). There's also convenient ignorance of the fact that much of Waterford's city's growth took place in Co Kilkenny. And of course the VEC in Wexford is bigger - because Wexford's territory is bigger.

I think a lot of what mitigates against Waterford is that it's a small county, and that the city's hinterland is spread over four counties (east Waterford, south Kilkenny, the New Ross area of Wexford and the Carrick area of Tipp).

fuzzy dunlop

fricatus wrote: »

This is a load of horsesh1t for two reasons:

1. It's no longer two separate VECs. It's one VEC, covering a larger territory than before, and the logical place to put the HQ is in the largest population centre in that unified territory. The fact that the largest population centre is also ideally located from a geographical, infrastructural and spatial point of view is an added factor that should support the HQ being in Waterford.

2. So what if Wexford is growing faster than Waterford? Surely that means that locating the HQ in Waterford would be a support to a place that's potentially falling behind? A point worth bearing in mind is that Wexford's population growth in 2006-2011 includes a lot of commuters who moved to Gorey from Dublin. If anything, that factor is going to stagnate or go into reverse now (same with the fastest-growing county, Laois). There's also convenient ignorance of the fact that much of Waterford's city's growth took place in Co Kilkenny. And of course the VEC in Wexford is bigger - because Wexford's territory is bigger.

I think a lot of what mitigates against Waterford is that it's a small county, and that the city's hinterland is spread over four counties (east Waterford, south Kilkenny, the New Ross area of Wexford and the Carrick area of Tipp).

This is a good point.In the Unified geographical area Waterford is more centrally positioned and conveniant to the vast majority of the population.Including the Wexford population taken in Isolation.Ciara Conway needs to put some pressure on her party and imo threaten to resign the whip and oppose the party as a rebel.Especially as Labour Junior Minister Willie Penrose is threatening to do just that over the potential closure of Mullingar Barracks. Unlike Penrose Ciara Conway would have the moral arguement on her side. She is in an ideal position to embarrass Labour here.

Yes Boss

fuzzy dunlop wrote: »

This is a good point.In the Unified geographical area Waterford is more centrally positioned and conveniant to the vast majority of the population.Including the Wexford population taken in Isolation.Ciara Conway needs to put some pressure on her party and imo threaten to resign the whip and oppose the party as a rebel.Especially as Labour Junior Minister Willie Penrose is threatening to do just that over the potential closure of Mullingar Barracks. Unlike Penrose Ciara Conway would have the moral arguement on her side. She is in an ideal position to embarrass Labour here.

And pigs just might fly...Ms Conway appears to have no interest in putting her head above the parapet... A Political limp biscuit...

marathont

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/20111012191653.jpg/# From this weeks wexford people

Psychedelic

Cheeky cunt that Lawlor fella isn't he. Basically, "Waterford did well under Fianna Fail with Martin Cullen, now it's our turn, fcuk Waterford."

fricatus

Psychedelic wrote: »

"Waterford did well under Fianna Fail with Martin Cullen..."

Goes to show the mentality that still exists in this country, that you have to have a minister to do well... and conversely, if you "did well" it's because of the minister!

I presume he's referring to the bypass (long overdue, about 15 years after Cork got the Jack Lynch tunnel) and the M9 (you'd swear it had been built in isolation - like something in North Korea, rather than as a perfectly sensible national policy to link Dublin to the other four main cities in the state). Why do we never hear people go on about the M6 from Dublin to Galway for example?

Apparently that fcuker Joe Duffy went off at Ciara Conway on Liveline when she talked up the transparent flood barrier down town, talking about Martin Cullen again - can they not give this sh1t a bloody rest? Flood defences have been built all around the country in areas that flood - like our Quay! Is Waterford city centre not worthy of flood protection? And you know, we pay taxes so that we can have facilities like this! Last time I checked, we pay the same rate as people in Dublin and Cork.

This country needs to start taking decisions based on sensible and openly accountable criteria. Waterford clearly doesn't need a children's hospital, a 5,000-seater conference centre or a "Shannon-stopover" for all the flights to New York. However we have legitimate expectations for a city of our size - like a university, a motorway, flood defences, or to be HQ of the local VEC - and these should be considered openly on their merits and we should be treated the same as similar cities like Galway and Limerick. These decisions should not be in the gift of individual ministers! :mad:

Bards

fricatus wrote: »

Goes to show the mentality that still exists in this country, that you have to have a minister to do well... and conversely, if you "did well" it's because of the minister!

I presume he's referring to the bypass (long overdue, about 15 years after Cork got the Jack Lynch tunnel) and the M9 (you'd swear it had been built in isolation - like something in North Korea, rather than as a perfectly sensible national policy to link Dublin to the other four main cities in the state). Why do we never hear people go on about the M6 from Dublin to Galway for example?

Apparently that fcuker Joe Duffy went off at Ciara Conway on Liveline when she talked up the transparent flood barrier down town, talking about Martin Cullen again - can they not give this sh1t a bloody rest? Flood defences have been built all around the country in areas that flood - like our Quay! Is Waterford city centre not worthy of flood protection? And you know, we pay taxes so that we can have facilities like this! Last time I checked, we pay the same rate as people in Dublin and Cork.

This country needs to start taking decisions based on sensible and openly accountable criteria. Waterford clearly doesn't need a children's hospital, a 5,000-seater conference centre or a "Shannon-stopover" for all the flights to New York. However we have legitimate expectations for a city of our size - like a university, a motorway, flood defences, or to be HQ of the local VEC - and these should be considered openly on their merits and we should be treated the same as similar cities like Galway and Limerick. These decisions should not be in the gift of individual ministers! :mad:

and they wonder why SF's popularity is rising in the Polls