WATERFORD’s descent into economic gloom was halted yesterday by confirmation of 270 new jobs for the county thanks to big expansion programmes by two multinationals.

US BIOTECHNOLOGY company, Genzyme has announced a second major drug manufacturing project for its Irish operations in as many weeks.

MORE flights between Waterford and Britain and plans for services linking the south-east and Dublin are expected to be outlined today as bosses at the South-East Regional Airport gather for their annual general meeting.

WATERFORD’S appeal as a hub for major multi-nationals could be suffering because of insufficient flights in and out of its airport, industry bosses say.