Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It appears that the enthusiasm the Taoiseach recently expressed to me in this House about investing in Waterford Airport is not supported by his two Government partners. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, received the airport's business case on 13 December and signed a parliamentary question response to me on 11 January stating that. Despite his amnesia around that matter, he has let it be known that he has zero appetite for this project. The Government has invested heavily in all other regional airports, with the Tánaiste prominent in his support for Cork Airport. Unfortunately, he loses all interest in capital spending once it heads east of the Dunkettle interchange. The Taoiseach's recently stated support for the project needs to be made real. This means committing his power and influence to ensure the business case is properly considered. Without a Government response soon, the project procurement timelines will torpedo any hope of a 2024 build commencement. This week, the Government announced €1.5 billion of additional capital expenditure. None of it was in the south east, by the way.

Does the Taoiseach support the political resistance, dressed up as bureaucratic bungling, that is jeopardising the delivery of this project in the south east? Will he commit that a decision on the project will be agreed in time to meet the 2024 build schedule?

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