Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Exchequer support for infrastructural projects at the regional airports is confined to safety and security related projects under the Regional Airports Programme 2011-2014. The projects being funded at Waterford Airport under the current Programme, through the CAPEX scheme, include runway end safety areas, RESAs, which involve the purchase of land to facilitate this work, as well as boundary fencing and the installation of other safety related equipment.  Other developmental projects, such as the extension of the runway, do not come within the remit of the CAPEX scheme.

I understand that the land purchase for the runway end safety areas has been delayed and that the CPO process has been referred for arbitration on 26 August 2014. Once the arbitration has been successfully completed the land purchase and the work can be undertaken later this year, but that is contingent on that arbitration being completed successfully.

Development projects, such as runway expansion, are entirely a matter for Waterford Airport.  I understand that the board and management of the airport are engaged in a fund-raising exercise with local authority and private sector sources in relation to this.

See this speech in context