Waterford city is a connected city. Investment in high quality infrastructure such as Waterford Airport, Port of Waterford, motorways and broadband adds to the productive potential of the economy whilst also supporting jobs and improving the quality of life for all residents.

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Port of Waterford

The annual value of goods through the deep-sea Port of Waterford was estimated at €1.7 billion in 2017 with 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly supported. A €60m investment in the port will facilitate an estimated +4% growth per annum growth forecast to 2040.

Port of Waterford (Bulk & Lo-Lo) and the 73km away Rosslare Europort (Passengers and Ro-Ro) are Ireland’s closest ports to mainland Europe. Both ports offer a range of direct services to Northern European destinations plus direct UK services from Rosslare and rail freight services in Waterford.

Port of Waterford has seen increased traffic through the port’s main container terminal at Belview this year, and in the 10 months to 31 October, the port handled 19,576 containers, an increase of 11% on the same period in 2019.

The port currently has services running twice-weekly to Rotterdam (via DFDS/Samskip) and to Rotterdam Deep Sea Port (via BG Freight/Hapag-Lloyd/Maersk) where shipments are then transported across the globe.

Management at the Port are committed to working with importers and exporters to develop new routes where there is sufficient demand.

 

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Waterford Airport

Waterford Airport will see €12 million investment to extend and widen the existing runway to be capable of accommodating jet propelled carriers. The capital investment will see visitor numbers grow into the South East region to 500,000 by 2040. The expansion of Waterford Airport is one of the most important opportunities for growth by opening up the Waterford City region to visitors and business.

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Digital Infrastructure

Waterford has faster broadband speeds than the national average and can match any major city allowing businesses to attract and service clients successfully on a global scale. Speeds up to 1,000Mbps are now being achieved with €15 million broadband network investment.

Waterford City and County Council are committed to supporting communities and businesses to reap the full rewards of a digitally enabled society. To this end, the development of a digital strategy for Waterford commenced back in early 2018 when a steering group was formed. The four main themes of the digital strategy; are:

  • Digital Infrastructure
  • Citizen/Community
  • Digital Economy
  • Digital Council

The working group is charged with developing objectives and actions for the Digital Strategy Implementation Plan under each theme and contributing to the Digital Strategy Report. Waterford’s Broadband Officer is coordinating the digital strategy through the working group and the Department of Communications (DCCAE), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and their appointed consultants to deliver our local digital strategy.

 

Waterford – a SMART City

Waterford City & County Council is a member of the All-Ireland Smart Cities Forum; the aim is to improve the delivery of services to citizens, foster economic development and promote innovation. Waterford City & County Council has engaged with TSSG to work on several Smart IoT Test Bed projects.

The future of connectivity in Waterford includes 5G and will enable an era of connectivity like never before from autonomous driving, tactile internet, immersive technologies and next-generation IoT applications.

Citizens and businesses expect municipal authorities to meet a wide variety of needs. These range from smoothly functioning public services to an economic environment that supports economic growth and inward investment. Smart city solutions offer new ways to leverage massive quantities of data and new technologies to address these goals.

The combination of ubiquitous connectivity and big data analytics (e.g., descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive) is a powerful enabler of services that will significantly improve urban living.

 

 

 

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Road & Rail
Connections

Waterford is the closest regional city to Dublin commutable by road or rail in under 120 minutes. Waterford and the South East region has excellent road infrastructure with the M9 motorway to Dublin Airport & City and the N25 national route to Cork Airport & City.  Investment of €250 million in the N25 New Ross by-pass route connecting Rosslare to Cork, via Waterford, has cemented Waterford’s position as the Gateway of the South East.

There are 7 daily rail connections between Waterford and Dublin City centre. The average journey time is 120 minutes with early morning commuter routes. Excellent on board Wi-Fi allows the working day to begin as soon as on board.  The rail link runs through the Port of Waterford offering a quayside rail-head and giving access to the national rail network.

How we help.
We can provide investment support and advice on doing business in Waterford. We facilitate introductions to economic development agencies, private industry, academia and government.