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Regional Airports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Questions (900)

Mary Butler

Question:

900. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be taken in relation to the application submitted on behalf of Waterford Airport, Waterford City and County Council and other interested investors to extend the runway at the airport; if the necessary extra capital of €5 million will be provided to facilitate the extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54334/18]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, no scheduled air services have operated out of Waterford Airport since June 2016. Accordingly, no capital funding from the Regional Airports Programme (RAP) has been provided to the airport since that time and grant aid towards operational expenses ceased from 2017. In December 2016, I advised the airport that it would be untenable for my Department to continue to disburse taxpayers’ money to an airport where no scheduled passenger services were operating. As a result of the foregoing, Waterford Airport advised the Department of its challenging financial state in December 2017.

On foot of requests made by the airport, and to ensure that there would be no disruption to the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue (SAR) service, I sanctioned the provision of €750,000 in grant funding to the airport last year. Two payments of €375,000 were made to the airport in January and December. These were exceptional measures and were provided to allow time for appropriate consideration of the issues arising at Waterford Airport.

In light of the situation outlined, my Department procured the services of independent consultants, Ernst & Young (EY) to advise on the future options for the airport. As part of this review, EY have considered the application submitted by the airport to extend its runway, which included a request for Exchequer support.

In early October 2018, at a meeting of Government, I updated my Cabinet colleagues on the process to consider future options for Waterford Airport. Following that meeting, a copy of the review was provided to the airport and it is my intention, upon receipt and consideration of any views received from the airport by my Department, to bring proposals on the matter to Government.

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