2.1 | Attributes of theWaterfordMASP area
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The Waterford Metropolitan Area attributes include: • Expanding Population of Waterford City & Suburbs: 53,504 in 2016; • Part of a wider Metropolitan Area including Ferrybank in South Kilkenny (Pop 59,854); • 5th Largest Employment Location in the State; • Ireland’s Oldest City & Viking Centre; • International Gateway to the Region with the Port of Waterford - Belview and Waterford Airport ; • Good Connectivity with M9 Motorway to Kilkenny/Dublin, National Roads to Cork, Limerick and Wexford/Rosslare and Rail links to Dublin & Limerick; • Regional Centre for Health and other public services including University Hospital Waterford;
Regional Centre for Leisure and Recreation ;
• Regional Centre for Higher Education through WIT and Development of the Technological University of the South-East (TUSE) ; • Innovation Hub and Smart City for the South-East ; • The Waterford Metropolitan Area has its own beach resort at Tramore with high frequency City Bus route Connecting the City to the Beach & Coastal Town ; • Gateway to extensive coastline , attractive Fishing Ports & Harbours, UNESCO GEOcoast and attractive river and upland and mountain scenery in Comeraghs/Knockmealdowns & long the Rivers Barrow and Suir; • Located in Ireland’s Ancient East & destination for Arts, Culture, Heritage & Festivals; • Home of the Waterford Greenway.
2.2 | Signals of Confidence
The following Signals of Confidence are identified which support the realisation of the Vision for the Metropolitan Area and the Key Enablers/Priorities identified. These include: • URDF Funding for a new bridge to link The North Quays SDZ to the City Centre and advanced proposals to develop a re-imagined urban space; • Continued investment to improve the public realm
in the City Centre including works to the Apple Market; • Redeveloped Court House including associated public space and walkways; • Investment in the Arts to develop the Waterford Cultural Quarter; • Progress made in planning the extension of the Waterford Greenway through the City Centre to link to the Waterford – New Ross Greenway; • Investment by Bus Éireann in a new bus fleet and improved services levels.
2.3 | Waterford – A Metropolitan Area at Work
Waterford’s Daytime Working Population
bringing the daytime working population to 24,375 in 2016. The large daytime working population is reflected in the Jobs to Workers Ratio of 1.2. According to the 2016 census, just over half of commuters to the city and suburbs are from County Waterford (5,807) with 27% from Kilkenny (2,994) and 10% fromWexford (1,145). Education plays a significant role in the working life of the Metropolitan Area and over 10,000 students are enrolled at WIT with approximately 1000 staff employed across different campus locations in the City.
WaterfordCityand suburbs is thefifth largest location for employment in the State. With major employment in the University Hospital, Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), pharma industry and retail, the Waterford Metropolitan Area is a major regional employment centre and an economic driver. Of the 16,610 workers residing in the City, 21% worked elsewhere, while 11,274 workers travelled to the city and suburbs for work,
Southern Regional Assembly | RSES
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