Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ross, to the House. It is very familiar to him. Indeed, I served a term as Senator with him from 2007 to 2011. I also served a term with him in the Lower House. This is my first opportunity publicly to wish the Minister well with his portfolio. He brings vast experience to the office and I believe he will do a good job. He has a good understanding of what is required in terms of transport, tourism and economic development.

As we heard in the earlier debate, transport and tourism are undoubtedly key economic components of Ireland's economy. Like the roads mentioned by Senator O'Donnell, other infrastructure such as our rail, ports and airports are critical to unlocking the economic potential our regions offer to the economy. I have often compared Dublin and its environs to an economic vortex, where it sucks the economic activity from the regions of this country as well as our young educated people. They come to Dublin where the jobs are and, unfortunately, do not return to the regions. Until we address the long-term strategic decisions of our country for regional development and critical infrastructure development we will not change that situation.

There is a unique opportunity for all of us, including the Minister, to make strategic decisions in the interests of sustainable regional development. For that reason, I raise an issue of which the Minister is well aware, the long-term sustainable future of Waterford Airport. It serves the south-east region, a region that has been under-performing due to the deficits in critical infrastructure. In fairness, some of them have been addressed over the last number of years. With the development of the motorway to Waterford one can see already the economic development it brings. Investments made by the Minister's Department and his predecessors in tourism initiatives have also brought economic activity. I refer to the Viking Triangle in Ireland's oldest city, Waterford, and the Déise Greenway which is due to open later this year and will link the oldest city in Ireland to one of the most beautiful harbour towns in Ireland, Dungarvan. It runs across the mid-county of Waterford with the coast on one side and the Comeragh Mountains on the other.

Waterford and the south-east region are very proud of what they have to offer. However, we need help in terms of delivering the critical infrastructure that will allow us to layer economic activity and employment on top of that. Waterford Airport has experienced some difficulties over the years with operational airlines coming and going. VLM Airlines is the most recent airline at the airport but it has announced it is to discontinue its service to Birmingham and Luton. That is an important connection to the UK, our neighbour, which brings people to the region who will spend there and create the activity I have mentioned.The board and management team at Waterford Airport have worked assiduously in very difficult circumstances. The previous Government supported the airport through the worst economic times this country has experienced by providing grant aid of more than €5 million to keep it going. However, we now need to move to the next level. We must move on and a runway extension at Waterford Airport is critical so that jet aircraft can land there and in order that more operators will be interested in bringing passengers to and from not just Waterford but also the wider south-east region, where all economic indicators are showing that we are underperforming. As a region, the south east can contribute to the economic recovery. It can contribute to job creation, in which we are all interested, but, more importantly, it can contribute to the sustainability of the economy.

The Minister has a critical role to play. I understand that he faces challenges and that he must spend his money wisely in terms of capital investment. If, however, he invests in this project, it will be a move he will not regret.