'Massive Step': Waterford Airport chief reacts to inclusion in Programme for Government
William Bolster, lead investor and Airport executive. Photo by Hugh Dooley
The chief investor in Waterford Airport has described the inclusion of the regional airport's development project in the Programme for Government as a "massive step forward".
"This is a massive step forward, this really is a massive step for us," said William Bolster, the largest shareholder of the airport, a member of the board and the owner of the Bolster Group, who believes this is a positive indicator for the future of the project to develop the airport.
The proposed coalition government comprised of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independent Regional Group has committed to work to "quickly progress the Waterford Airport project" in the draft Programme for Government published today, Wednesday, January 15.
The Programme for Government commits to “work with all stakeholders to quickly progress the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous government decision of 2019".
This comes on the back of pre-election promises from both major Government parties to progress the development of the airport following a scandal in which Fianna Fáil Minister of State James Lawless described the business case as a "pig in a poke".
"It's thanks to Deputy John Cummins and [Minister of State] Mary Butler that we have this good news, but the work only begins when we find out who the Minister [of Transport] is," the airport investor stated.
Mr Bolster said that "things went very quiet for a while" regarding the airport but that he expects the issue to regain attention "when the government is formed".
The draft Programme for Government was presented to the party memberships today following an agreement between Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, with the support of the Independent Regional Group.
It will now be the subject of approval by the party memberships over the coming days.
