David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2019, as an Oireachtas Member, I attended a meeting with the then Minister for transport, Shane Ross. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, was at that meeting as well. Mr. Ross essentially at that point signed off on State investment for Waterford Airport. We were told at that meeting - and I had been of the view for some time - that the airport had reached a crossroads and either the funding would come and the runway extension happen to give it a fighting chance to survive and get new commercial airlines and activity into the airport or else it would fold. There was no other option. "We have to extend the runway and it's all or nothing" is what was presented to us.

At the meeting, there was a proposal of a three-way arrangement between three local authorities in the region that would provide State funding, commercial and private investment and support from the Department of Transport. We heard in the meeting and it was subsequently reported in the media that there was strong pushback from officials in the Departments of Transport and Public Expenditure and Reform. We know that well in Waterford from a range of projects where we had to fight tooth and nail to get State funding over the line and to present business cases time and again before a decision was made.

On the airport, we are still here and still waiting. It was 2019 when the commitment was given. I accept other parties and stakeholders are part of the arrangement but for some time the private sector funding has been there, the local authority funding has been there and business cases have been submitted. There was confusion about this earlier this year but in December of last year a business case or proposal was submitted by the board of the airport to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. My understanding is fresh information or an updated submission was given in April this year. Possibly since then, more information has been provided but there is still no decision.

I talk to the Minister for Transport when I get a chance, often on the corridors of Leinster House, and ask if there is any movement. It is our job as local politicians to move these issues on. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will agree that there is frustration in Waterford that no decision has been made. I cannot understand what is happening; nobody is telling us what is happening. There are different views and reasons given for the delay. Surely to God somebody should be able to make a decision to fund the airport or not. We cannot continue indefinitely with no decision on the future of the airport. It is one of the few airports in the State that does not receive substantial State funding because it is all conditional on this proposal going ahead.

It seems the biggest stumbling block is the Department of Transport, Minister for Transport and Government making a decision. When will the decision be made to grant funding for the airport? Has the Department met with the other stakeholders? If this was a three-way arrangement, surely the departmental officials and the Minister for Transport would meet local authorities providing some of the funding and with the private sector investment. It is important for the people of Waterford to fully understand what is happening. We are getting mixed messages and there is no certainty around when a decision can be made. It is reasonable to ask what is happening, who is meeting who and have the Minister and his officials met with the private investors putting money up and with the local authorities. More important, when will the application for funding be signed off on?

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