Council to make plea for 'letter of comfort' from Minister of Transport on Waterford Airport

The Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr Jason Murphy has agreed to make a plea to the Minister of Transport to give a "letter of comfort" to the Waterford Airport investors to enable planned development works.

The Council subcommittee for Economic Development and Enterprise met with the Waterford Airport's lead investor, William Bolster, at the end of February. Following on from the meeting, Social Democrat Councillor Mary Roche sought increased action on the issue. Councillor Roche said she had learned at the meeting that the investors in the airport "are not actually looking for the €12 million upfront from the Government".

"They're actually more or less looking for a letter of comfort, something that was delivered by Shane Ross in the government previous to last," Cllr Roche said, noting that the delivery of such a promise of funding "will release funds in order to put the buildings and the runway in place."

The councillor raised concern that should the funds not be secured or promised to enable the construction, the airport would miss another tourism season and requested the Mayor write to the new Minister for Transport on the issue.

"It is imperative that this is kicked off as fast as possible," said Cllr Roche, continuing on to highlight the disparity in funding being given to Waterford in comparison to other regions.

Cllr Roche said that Waterford is being compared to other cities and being asked to deliver what they are being asked to deliver, but said the Déise city is not being given the tools to "deliver on the pitch".

The councillors were told that the Council had written to Minister Darragh O'Brien to request a meeting but had not heard a response, with Mayor Murphy agreeing to send a follow-up on the issue.