Airport can now finally be considered
Waterford Airport was raised in the Dáil by Deputy Cullinane last week.
The ongoing saga of the Waterford Airport runway investment continued in the Dáil last week, as the matter was raised by Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane, only to be given a very surprising answer by the new junior Minister for Transport.
Deputy Cullinane referred to the frustrations felt by the people of Waterford as a promise was made by the then Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, in 2019 to develop the airport further.
"I can tell you that we know that very well in Waterford, when you look at a whole range of projects where we had to fight tooth and nail to get State funding over the line, and business cases being presented time and time again before a decision was made," said Deputy Cullinane.
"But on the airport, we’re still here, we’re still waiting. It was 2019 when that commitment was given. I accept that there are other parties and other stakeholders that are part of this arrangement, but at this point in time, as I stand here today, and it still being the case now for some time, the private sector funding is there, the local authority funding is there, business cases have been submitted, so my understanding is, and there was confusion around this during the year, that in December of last year, a business case or a proposal was submitted by the board of the airport to the Minister for Transport.
"My understanding is fresh information, or an updated submission was then made in April of this year. Possibly since then more information has been provided, but there is still no decision... Surely to God, somebody should be able to make a decision and say we’re going to fund the airport or we’re not, because we can’t continue on indefinitely with no decision being made on the future of the airport," he added.
Deputy Cullinane then asked if there was an update that could be given on the matter, and if the Department of Transport officials had recently held discussions with other members of the "three-legged stool", including the three local authorities and the private investors.
Despite the Junior Minister for Transport, James Lawless, being newly appointed to the role, he had a surprising and well-informed response for Deputy Cullinane, which included a detailed financial history of Waterford Airport, but not a decision on the business plan submitted recently by the Airport Board.
“It is recognised and understood that Waterford Airport has faced serious financial challenges. I understand that, to avoid liquidation, the airport sought emergency subvention from my department in December 2017," said Minister Lawless in his response to Deputy Cullinane.
“On foot of this, and subsequent requests emergency operational payments totalling €1.5 million were then made to Waterford Airport, with the last payment being made in 2020.
"This funding was provided on an exceptional needs basis, in order to allow time for the consideration of the future of the airport, including a proposal to expand its runway," he continued.
The Junior Minister also highlighted that information required by the Department from the Airport Board in relation to escalating costs was outstanding until as late as April of this year.
“The Department has prioritised the matter and completed initial appraisals of the project,” however, due to the submitted information being incomplete, “further matters were raised and remain outstanding from the Airport” since May.
“So it’s only really in the last five weeks that the Department has had full information to decide on the matter. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is continuing to engage," added Minister Lawless.
"Information is power, without information it’s difficult for anybody to be in power and that information has only been received in the last month. Now we can bring that forward to give that proper consideration," he concluded.
As Deputy Cullinane accepted this response, he was also appreciative to have received an honest and accurate update, although, a timeframe is yet to be established as to when there will be a final decision on the matter.
The Airport Board is yet to sit at its first meeting to ratify its newest members, which will include newly elected Councillors Jim D'Arcy and Declan Barry. In response to previous comments made by Cllr Jim Griffin stating that Cllr D'Arcy was too "inexperienced", Cllr D'Arcy told the Waterford News & Star: "I'm delighted to be elected. I've 10 years experience and I'm a former mayor of the city. I'm a safe pair of hands to continue the work of the Airport board."
