Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his officials to the meeting. I note the Minister has pointed out the key priority for investment in aviation in the programme for partnership Government. I think Waterford Airport has been singled out for large scale investment. Will the Minister comment on reports that €25 million is to be invested in Waterford Airport, the basis on which that figure was arrived at, the timeframe of this investment and whether an analysis of the value for money of the investment was conducted. I would imagine that investment in regional airports would be subject to compliance with the EU guidelines on State aids to airports. In the context of my comments on Waterford Airport, what effect will this have on the level of investment envisaged in the three other regional airports?