David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's response and acknowledge the subvention that has been made by the State to the airport over a long number of years. Perhaps I can take the Minister back to the point I made about the promises made under Transport 21 and the €22.5 million. Everybody accepts at this point in time that is not attainable but an application has been made to the new Waterford City and County Council to extend the runway by 350 m. It is a live application. It will help the airport to position itself to attract larger aircraft and make it easier to get new routes which is what we want to achieve, an issue of which the Minister is supportive. We are aware of media reports whereby Knock Airport has been promised 90% of infrastructural funding. If it is good enough for Knock Airport it should be good enough for Waterford Airport. I wish to impress upon the Minister the importance of regional airports, including Waterford Airport, to the economy in Waterford and not only Waterford but the entire south east.