Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was hoping the Minister would be present because, on 28 April, I highlighted to him during Leaders' Questions the dysfunction that exists in DAA management, which was clearly seen at the weekend. It is also a reflection of the Government's ability to spend eye-watering sums on Dublin Airport without any regard to the efficiencies or capacities it delivers. I suggest that the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, look at the exclusions that were offered to workers who were made redundant and see if they can be brought back on short-time working. Perhaps the Army could be brought in as well to try to get over this debacle.

I also wish to speak about Waterford Airport, the home of Rescue 117, and the capacity increases that were mooted for that airport in the 1990s. It was, in fact, the first regional airport used by a fledgling Ryanair. The runway extension to allow jet activity was in the previous programme for Government, but it was walked away from because of prevailing politics at the time. The airport's catchment mirrors that of University Hospital Waterford, with more than 530,000 people living in the area. There is a population of 1.5 million, which is growing, within 90 minutes' travel time of Waterford Airport. On 28 April, I also raised with the Minister the Department's stated funding of €160 million for the national aviation sector, while bypassing Waterford Airport completely. I expect the Minister of State will have heard in the news this morning that private equity of €8 million has now been secured for Waterford Airport to fund the expansion of the runway extension there. It will also require a combined investment of €2 million from the local authorities and €5 million from the Government. I thank Deputies Verona Murphy and Lowry, who are in the Regional Group, for visiting, and making representations for, the airport.

I will make a few points that the Minister of State might convey to the Minister. I expect that this funding will be delivered by way of grant aid and not be based on some public procurement capital plan. Currently, we are a year down the road in Waterford in trying to acquire lands for the South East Technological University. Grant money would be the most expeditious way to deliver funding to the airport. If the cost envelope for this new runway extends beyond what has been anticipated, the people of the south east and I would expect that the Government will fund any shortfalls. That is equitable treatment, and it is something the Government has announced for shoring up cost overruns in other public sector procurement processes under way at present. I also ask that the Minister make a formal announcement as soon as possible welcoming the private sector announcement and honouring the deal that was made with Waterford and the south east regarding delivery of this vital infrastructure. It is long past time that it was delivered.

I refer to the recent public transport fares reduction, with the NTA launching a 20% reduction in public transport fares. Why was this not extended to the private sector, particularly to bus operators? Semi-State companies should not have a monopoly in this country, but that is exactly what the Government is now reinforcing with its policy. It is uncompetitive and discriminatory against private bus operators. It will mean that private routes will be lost in the future, thereby discommoding customers with less choice and more costs. I ask the Minister of State to speak to the NTA to find a way to try to support a ticketing solution to deliver discounts in these private fares as well.

With respect to heavy goods vehicle, HGV, and bus and lorry driving licences from Ukraine, and this has arisen previously, we have a number of people in this country who have both HGV and bus licences but who cannot have them accepted by the NTA. Car licences are immediately accepted in this country. Again, this is something that must be examined.

On cardiac care, I raised in the House in the last week the issue of 134 blue-light transfers out of Waterford, with the average travelling time to Cork taking three hours and 15 minutes. Perhaps the Minister might care to make a public comment on the Tánaiste's statement in the House during the debate on the national maternity hospital that it had to be in Dublin because a lady suffering a cardiac arrest could access ICU care in 20 minutes. What does that say for us in the south east? Is the Government aware that the international standard protocol for accessing cardiac catheterisation is 90 minutes from the onset of pain and first responder?

These are matters I hope the Minister of State will take up with the Minister. We need the N25 upgraded to give us a cardiac pathway for out-of-hours care. Far more importantly, we need the delivery of 24-7 cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford. I expect to see this delivered in the Government's programme.

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