Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Media reports in Waterford indicate that the Minister for Finance, Deputy McGrath, is due in town tomorrow. There is an expectation that he is bringing an airport runway under his arm. I understand the business case is ready to be put to the Government, but I have seen many frothy announcements for Waterford left to wither on the vine as the Government stonewalls and forces private capital to look elsewhere. I remind the Tánaiste that the Government has paid out €198 million in regional aviation supports since 2020. Waterford received just €375,000 of that, namely, just 0.2% of national airport funding. Will the Tánaiste give a commitment that the Department's response will be finalised and provided in the next two months in order to allow a schedule to begin at Waterford Airport for spring 2025? If it is a daunting ask, I remind the Tánaiste of the speed with which the Government moved to approve the Dunkettle roundabout and the extensions at Cork and Dublin airports.

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