David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

It seems to the people of Waterford that, when it comes to the application for funding for the runway extension at Waterford Airport, which is not just an issue for Waterford but for all those who live in the south east, it is a case of "Send the fool further". That is now said to me regularly. In 2019, I attended a meeting with the then Minister for transport, Shane Ross, one of the Minister of State's former colleagues. He gave a commitment to fund the runway extension. At the time, that was a commitment of €5 million. At a meeting that he organised, he informed Members of the Oireachtas from Waterford that there was very serious pushback from the Department of transport and officials but he made the decision. Here we are six years later and there is still no funding. I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and I do not know how many Ministers for transport and, every time I do, I am told the same thing. I am told that it will be reviewed and examined, that it is under consideration and that work is being done behind the scenes. All of it has come to nothing.

While I do not begrudge Cork any funding, we saw a €200 million investment in Cork Airport. Part of this was to extend car parks and remediate existing runways but funding was also provided to extend the executive lounges and duty-free shop at the airport. We have an airport that needs a runway extension if it is to have a fighting chance. It is needed to allow jet planes to take off and land and to allow a new carrier to come in to provide connectivity to Britain and Europe. There is an inherent unfairness in what is happening here.

Can we cut to the chase and cut out the crap on this once and for all? Will the Minister of State tell the people of Waterford and the south east if he is going to fund the runway extension at Waterford Airport? It is "Yes" or it is "No". Let us have no more dithering and no more delays. Will he please tell us if he is going to fund it?

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