Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the €22.3 million allocated under Transport 21 to Waterford Airport; the amount to be allocated in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40445/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In February 2007, the Government approved grants under Transport 21 amounting to €86 million, consisting of €39 million under Measure 1 (90% funding) for safety/security projects, and €47 million under Measure 2 (75% funding) for developmental projects at the six regional airports in the period up to the end of 2010. Waterford Airport, with potential grants amounting to €22.33 million, is a major beneficiary under the capital grant scheme and has already received about €2.77 million in grant aid. Projects earmarked for the Airport include €9.2 million for safety related projects and €13.1 million for development projects. The provision in my Department's Vote to fund the capital expenditure grant scheme in 2009 is €11 million. Because of the current difficulties with the public finances, I have decided that until the end of 2009, expenditure under the scheme should focus on projects and project elements where the airports have already entered into contractual commitments. This means that inevitably, full implementation of the approved capital programme will take longer than originally anticipated. My Department will aim to establish priorities for grant aid from the funds available in 2009, having regard to contractual commitments and a realistic assessment of the actual drawdown requirements for safety and security-related projects likely to arise during the year. At a recent meeting with Waterford Airport, I received a detailed presentation on priority items which the airport wants to move forward in 2009, which are mainly safety/security related. This will be considered by my Department in the context of its review of priorities for funding under the scheme next year, but it is not possible to give any commitments at this stage on the eventual decisions.