Decision pending for Waterford Airport as TDs lobby government
Waterford News & Star can confirm that the Department of Transport has received the assessment of the resubmitted business case prepared by Waterford Airport but no decision has been made yet on the case.
A decision is pending on the future of Waterford Airport as the Department of Transport is in the process of reviewing an assessment of the business case for the extension of the runway.
The Waterford News & Star can confirm that the Department of Transport has received the assessment of the resubmitted business case prepared by Waterford Airport but no decision has been made yet on the case.
“The Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport,” a spokesperson for the department said, “This appraisal has included the assessment of significant documentation and responses to queries raised by Department officials and addressed by the airport up until 17 July.
“The Department has completed its assessment of the detail submitted by Waterford Airport in line with the Project Outline Document requirements. This assessment was recently submitted to both Minister Ryan and Minister Lawless for their consideration.”
The Department of Transport explained that the decision to give state funding to the expansion of Waterford Airport would be based on the Airport’s Board demonstrating that “sufficient demand exists for Waterford Airport to be a viable facility for regular scheduled aviation business” and that the additional capacity could not be met by existing airports in the vicinity of Waterford.
The Department noted that Waterford Airport is “currently in a position to operate services without any major runway extension and it operated with the existing runway for several years previously”.
“The existing runway is comparable to Donegal Airport, which successfully operates both PSO and commercial propellor plane services.”
Amid the government review, Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has called for an immediate decision on the funding for the Waterford Airport business case, citing a €12.4 million underspend for regional airports.
“I note that within Programme D for Civil Aviation there is an underspend of €12.4 million for regional airports. I am aware that the level of funding requested and reported for Waterford Airport is in the region of €12 million.
“As reported recently, the appraisal of the business case for Waterford Airport funding has now been assessed by departmental officials.
“What is necessary now is a timely decision being made. It is imperative that the South East gets a decision on Waterford Airport public funding,” said Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, emphasising that the decision now lies in the hands of the Ministers Ryan and Donohoe, Minister of State Lawless and various government bodies.
Ó Cathasaigh said that it was important to highlight the Appropriation Accounts for 2023, which outline departmental spending, which indicate where “significant overspends and underspends” can be found in government spending.
The budgetary underspend of €12.4 million, which Ó Cathasaigh refers to, came from uncommenced upgrades to other regional airports, due to supply chain difficulties and case design delays.
Independent TD for Waterford, Deputy Matt Shanahan voiced his frustrations with the lack of funding for Waterford Airport in Dáil Eireann.
“What of Waterford Airport? A vital gateway and economic driver for the region supporting tourism and enterprise development.
“Everyone in Waterford and the South East witnessed the Government spend €484 million of public money on other airports, yet it bickers over approving €12 million in matching funding for Waterford.”
“When regions are starved of investment and when their potential is ignored, they begin to pull away. They begin to question their value to a State that seems indifferent to their needs. This is not just the basis for an economic issue; it also questions democratic values.
“The people of this country want fairness and a certain toughness on their behalf. They want and expect leadership that is more than just bouncing from one crisis to another. They want to hear a vision for a better future. They want that vision to include them.”
A series of written questions to Minister Ryan as to the decision timeline are currently awaiting responses.
