Grant aids Waterford Crystal Project

Wednesday, 13th June 2012

€914,960 Grant from S&E Regional Assembly aids Waterford Crystal Project

A payment of €914,960 has been issued by the Southern & Eastern (S&E) Regional Assembly to Waterford City Council towards the flagship House of Waterford Crystal. The S&E Regional Assembly approved grant aid of €2.76 m to the centre promoters Waterford City Council under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme in October 2009.

The Waterford city project consists of two strands. The first and largest element involved the restoration and conversion of a collection of adjoining buildings (including a protected structure) in the city centre into a crystal manufacturing and visitor centre. These building were in the City Council’s ownership.

The second element is located nearby and consists of the extension and upgrading of the Bolton Street car park to provide dedicated tourist coach parking area.

Speaking from the S&E Region Assembly’s headquarters in O’Connell St, Waterford the Director of the Assembly Mr. Stephen Blair stated, 'we are delighted to have been in a position to provide ERDF financial support towards this project in Waterford. This project has the potential to make a valuable contribution to the sustainable economic development of Waterford and to contribute to the viability and vitality of the city centre.

We congratulate all those involved in this important project.'

Cllr Tomás Breathnach, Cathaoirleach of the S&E Regional Assembly said that the project is designed to contribute to the development of Waterford and also to the South East region. When Waterford Crystal ceased their Kilbarry operation, the City Council decided to re-establish a crystal manufacturing and visitor centre in the heart of the city. Crystal making is an important asset to the city in employment and tourism terms.' The Director added, 'funding is provided by the Assembly from the S&E Regional Operational Programme under its Gateway Development

Programme. This programme represents a strategic investment by the S&E Regional Assembly in the Region's Gateways as identified in the National

Spatial Strategy. In these constrained economic times it is vital that the development of the identified drivers of economic growth in our Region continue to receive as much financial and strategic support as possible'. A cumulative payment of €2,256,808.83 is paid to the City Council for the project by the S&E Regional Assembly to date.