Waterford, as the Capital of the South East will be a vibrant and sustainable place for all its people who live, work, visit or invest here.
OUR VISION
That Waterford is ambitious, progressive, and connected. A place
where all our people enjoy life, well-being and opportunity at its
heart.
That Waterford people have access to a responsive, professional and
people focused local authority which is connected at a strategic level
to the wider public service.
That Waterford and the South East are positioned to lead in terms of
business development, economic growth and educational excellence.
That Waterford offers a unique quality of life for all with outstanding
world class amenities and a natural unspoiled landscape and scenery and become a recognised tourism destination which honours its cultural and
historic heritage as Ireland’s Oldest City.
Waterford Integration Services, Waterford Europe Direct Information Centre, Waterford Libraries, Waterford Cultural Quarter and Waterford City and County Council are coming together to host a Global Women’s Conference on Tuesday 10 March in Garter Lane Arts Centre from 9am to 4pm to coincide with International Women’s Day Events.
On the day delegates can join local and global speakers, women activists, academics, policy makers and community leaders. The conference will invite all speakers and delegates to participate in the important dialogue of Migrant Women and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Anne Nolan from Waterford Integration Services explains: “Our focus at local level is on empowering women as key actors of Integration and Economic Development as a direct response to our commitment to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals in Waterford and the South-East. We collaborate on issues affecting Migrant women and their families by highlighting inequalities and social exclusion, policy development and research, education, income poverty, women and health, politics and decision-making, combating racism and discrimination as well as women and human rights.”
Speakers will include Lelini Veerassamy CEO of International Organisation for Migration, Osas Usideme, Intercultural Health Hub, Sarah Franklyn, Coalition 2030, Tulowani Akaehomen, Businesswoman and Author, Margaret Ward, journalist, Obianuju Eckedoze, Chair of the Waterford Migrant Forum, Marie Taylor, Limerick Institute of Technology and Her Excellency Dr. Uzoma Elizabeth Emenike, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mayor of the Waterford Metropolitan District Cllr. Breda Brennan will open the conference.
The day will also include mini cultural moments including storytelling by Carine Mambou, Rangoli, a south Indian art form, in which patterns are created for luck, health and happiness, Red Sand Project – participatory community art to highlight victims of human trafficking that fall through the cracks in our global system.
There will also be information stands from Waterford Europe Direct Information Centre, South East Business Innovation Centre, Access I.T., Waterford Social Enterprise Network and Work Matters – Supports for Business & Employment at your Library.
Sunday 8 March is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
The Conference will take place at Garter Lane Arts Centre, O’Connell Street, which is located in Waterford’s Cultural Quarter. Tickets are free but booking is essential via eventbrite – search for ‘Global Women’s Conference’ or contact Central Library on 0761 10 2975 for more information.
A Single Use Plastics Policy was adopted at the recent meeting of the Plenary Council on 13th February. This policy will result in the elimination of single use plastics from all Council buildings, hired venues, catering and all events organised by Waterford City & County Council.
In addition, all events licensed or funded by Waterford City & County Council will be required to demonstrate measures to eliminate single use plastics and segregation of waste during and after the event and their subsequent disposal.
Following a draft prepared by the SPC for Environment, Climate Action and Biodiversity, the policy was brought to the Plenary Council where it was adopted, with immediate effect.
“Plastic is designed to last forever but is often used just once. Single-use plastic includes products such as straws, bottles, cups and cutlery; any plastic item that’s made for temporary use”, said Fergus Galvin, Director of Services for Roads, Water and Environment.
“Although we might not think much of it when we buy bottles of our favorite drink or buy a sandwich in a plastic box, these choices have a serious impact on the health of our planet and ourselves. This policy enables us to say a firm ‘no’ to single use plastics in our organisation. We are now building on the existing ban on single use bottles and cups in the Council Chambers by extending a ban on all single use plastics across the range of Council buildings and events.”
ENDS
Background: In January 2018, the European Commission adopted the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics. The strategy envisages that all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics will be reduced and the intentional use of micro plastics will be restricted. This strategy will transform the way products are designed, produced, used, and recycled in the EU. One of the first key legislative proposals to emerge on foot of the EU Plastics Strategy was the “Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment”, which was published on 28 May 2018.
In January 2019, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Minister Richard Bruton T.D. announced that government departments, public bodies, and schools will lead the way in the response to cutting down on single use plastics, with a number of measures, including no longer purchasing single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws for use within their offices.
The single-use plastics directive which was adopted in May 2019 builds on the EU’s existing waste legislation but goes further by setting stricter rules for those types of products and packaging which are among the top ten most frequently found items polluting European beaches. The new rules ban the use of certain throwaway plastic products for which alternatives exist. In addition, specific measures are introduced to reduce the use of the most frequently littered plastic products. Ireland has supported the ambition of this proposal throughout all the negotiations.
NOTICE OF DEPOSIT OF RATE BOOKS FOR INSPECTION AND INTENTION TO MAKE RATE FOR 2020
NOTICE is hereby given that Waterford City & County Council will make a Municipal Rate on the property rateable in the City & County of Waterford.
The annual rate on valuation for the service of the year ending 31st December 2020 on all rateable property within Waterford City and County Council’s administrative area is 0.2648.
The Rate Books are deposited for inspection by any ratepayer in the Customer Care Office, Baileys New Street, Waterford and in the Customer Care Office, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford and will be open for inspection between the hours of 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. excluding Saturdays and Sundays during the fourteen days from the 5th of February 2020.
Esri’s digital mapping technology used by local authority to manage housing, planning, finance, property management, roads, environment and customer service
Tech is enabling Council to complete double the number of housing inspections per year
Council has created a number of engaging story maps to promote tourism in the region
Dublin/Waterford, 27th January 2020 – Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announces that Waterford City and County Council has implemented Esri’s digital mapping software to help improve the delivery of local government and public services to more than 116,000* citizens in Waterford.
Esri’s GIS solutions are helping to digitally transform Waterford Council, by moving it away from many paper-based processes and leading to numerous efficiencies and benefits. The technology is being rolled out across many areas of the organisation, to help the Council to manage the wide range of services it delivers. These include housing, planning, finance, property management, roads, environment and customer service.
Pictured at the announcement that Waterford City and County Council has implemented Esri’s digital mapping technology to improve public services are (L-R): Dermot OKane, Head of Sales, Esri Ireland; Michael Walsh, CEO, Waterford City & County Council; and Jon Hawkins, GIS Projects Leader, Waterford City & County Council.
Esri’s digital mapping platform integrates with Waterford Council’s systems, transforming the way it manages numerous functions, such as housing and planning applications. Employees in the planning department have used the digital mapping platform to make faster and more informed decisions on 4,400 planning applications to date – based on easy access to accurate and complete information covering the entire county.
The mobile functionality of the technology is also transforming how the Council manages social housing throughout Waterford. Employees can now collect data in the field using smartphones and tablets with information immediately accessible in the main office, enabling it to complete double the number of housing inspections carried out each year.
Additionally, the mapping platform helps Waterford citizens to have a more active role in their social housing application. Applicants for choice based lettings can now view the location of properties they are interested in, as well as nearby amenities, all from online.
Waterford Council is benefitting from far greater efficiencies by digitising these previously paper-based processes. For example, the environment team have used the technology to complete more than 1,250 litter quantity and pollution surveys, removing unnecessary administration and the duplication of data to achieve an 80% time saving.
Waterford Council is also creating a number of publicly accessible interactive maps to make local information readily available and boost tourism in the region. Last year, approximately 790,000 overseas and domestic tourists visited Waterford, contributing more than €160 million to the local economy.
The maps developed by Waterford Council showcase attractions and upcoming events throughout the county, helping to attract more tourists to the area. One such series of maps explores the Waterford Greenway, a 46 kilometre off-road cycling and walking train along the old railway line from Waterford city to Dungarvan. Visitors can use the map on or offline to easily view car parks, bike hire shops, toilet facilities and highlights along the route, as well as viewing the local weather forecast.
Dermot O’Kane, Head of Sales, Esri Ireland, commented: “It’s great to see Waterford City & County Council embrace GIS throughout the authority. Councils across Ireland can leverage digital mapping to light up the data in their organisation – making information easily accessible for both their own staff and the wider public. While staff can make better decisions, complete tasks faster, study patterns and plan accordingly, the people of Waterford are also benefitting through improved access to local information and rich story maps highlighting the fantastic activities and attractions found across their county.”
Michael Walsh, CEO, Waterford City & County Council, said: “Waterford City & County Council is a local authority with responsibility for delivering local government and services to local businesses, citizens and visitors to Waterford. Esri’s GIS system has become a really important tool for us in terms of the effectiveness, the speed and hopefully the quality of decision-making within the Council.”
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*Population of Waterford city and county is 116,176 according to CSO, 2016.
See: census link
The theme of Waterford’s 2020 St. Patrick’s Day parade will be “Passion for Our Planet”
Waterford’s Businesses, community, sporting, and voluntary groups are being asked to showcase their Passion for Our Planet as part of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. We are encouraging them to be as creative and imaginative as possible in interpreting the theme through costumes, floats and performance.
The Mayor of City and County of Waterford, Councillor John Pratt, is leading planning for the event. He said, “We have entered a new decade, the decade that will decide whether or not we as global society can combat climate change”. Mayor Pratt also said, “I hope that all the parade participants will embrace the theme in creative and innovative waves to create a spectacle on the streets of Ireland’s Oldest City”.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of Waterford’s great community gatherings with hundreds of participants from all walks of life and it attracts in excess of twenty-thousand spectators. It will proceed from the Glen, along The Quay, Mall and Parnell Street where it concludes.
Already embracing this years theme are a group of young climate activists pictured with Mayor Pratt. The group met with Mayor Pratt and members of Waterford City And County Council in relation to climate change. A spokesperson said “We are delighted that Waterford City and County Council are putting the planet to the forefront this St. Patrick’s Day and we look forward to engaging with the festivities”.
Parade registration is now open. Groups and organisations interested in participating can register at http://bit.ly/StPatsParade2020
The theme of Waterford’s 2020 St. Patrick’s Day parade will be “Passion for Our Planet”
Waterford’s Businesses, community, sporting, and voluntary groups are being asked to showcase their Passion for Our Planet as part of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. We are encouraging them to be as creative and imaginative as possible in interpreting the theme through costumes, floats and performance.
The Mayor of City and County of Waterford, Councillor John Pratt, is leading planning for the event. He said, “We have entered a new decade, the decade that will decide whether or not we as global society can combat climate change”. Mayor Pratt also said, “I hope that all the parade participants will embrace the theme in creative and innovative waves to create a spectacle on the streets of Ireland’s Oldest City”.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of Waterford’s great community gatherings with hundreds of participants from all walks of life and it attracts in excess of twenty-thousand spectators. It will proceed from the Glen, along The Quay, Mall and Parnell Street where it concludes.
Already embracing this years theme are a group of young climate activists pictured with Mayor Pratt. The group met with Mayor Pratt and members of Waterford City And County Council in relation to climate change. A spokesperson said “We are delighted that Waterford City and County Council are putting the planet to the forefront this St. Patrick’s Day and we look forward to engaging with the festivities”.
Parade registration is now open. Groups and organisations interested in participating can register at http://bit.ly/StPatsParade2020
As Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, I would like to wish Senator Paudie Coffey all the best for future endeavours.
During his illustrious 20 year career, he has served as a member of Waterford County Council and as Deputy Mayor of County Waterford. He has served as a Minister for State and has also been a member of both the Dail and Seanad Eireann.
He has been a constant voice for Waterford and we wish him well.
Waterford City and County Archives will be closed on Friday 20th December 2019 in Dungarvan and will reopen on Tuesday 7th January in High Street in the City and on Friday 10th January in Dungarvan. Please contact the Archivist at archivist@waterfordcouncil.ie or 0761102144 with any queries.
Beidh an Chartlann i dúnta ar an Aoine 20 Nollag i nDún Garbhán. Beidh an Chartlann ar oscailt arís ar an Máirt 7 Mí Eanair sa Chathair agus ar an Aoine 10 Mí Eanair i nDún Garbhán. Má tá aon cheisteanna, déan teagmháil leis an gCartlannaí ar archivist@waterfordcouncil.ie nó 0761102144.
Waterford City & County Council would like to invite all interested members of the public and business owners to attend a Public Information Event on the public realm works planned for Tramore town centre.
The event will take place on Thursday 5th December from 3pm to 5pm and will be held on the ground floor of Tramore Library.
Staff from Waterford Council’s Design Team, along with the contractor’s staff (Niall Barry & Co. Ltd) will be present to answer any queries on the day.
Waterford City & County Council would like to invite all interested members of the public and business owners to attend a Public Information Event on the public realm works planned for Tramore town centre.
The event will take place on Thursday 5th December from 3pm to 7pm and will be held on the ground floor of Tramore Library.
Staff from Waterford Council’s Design Team, along with the contractor’s staff (Niall Barry & Co. Ltd) will be present to answer any queries on the day.
Agenda for Statutory Budget Meeting of Waterford City and County Council, will be held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, The Mall, Waterford on Friday, 29thNovember, 2019 at 4.00 p.m. to consider the Budget for the local financial year ending on 31st December, 2020.
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD attended a CCMA meeting today, chaired by Waterford Chief Executive, Michael Walsh where they discussed climate action, and the leading role local authorities can take in taking action and influencing change in their communities.
L-R Paddy Mahon, Longford Chief Executive; Michael Walsh, Waterford Chief Executive; Minister Richard Bruton, TD; Paul Dunne, LGMA Chief Executive; and, Ciaran Hayes, Sligo Chief Executive.
y 10th January in Dungarvan. Please contact the Archivist at 
