David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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298. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the additional €10 million for regional airports provided for under the programme for Government will be made available; if this €10 million is spread over one or more years; the limitations that exist on the areas this money can be spent on; if the additional money is for capital spend; to outline precisely the capital spend allowed and not allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20217/16]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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299. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any of the additional €10 million for regional airports provided for under the programme for Government will be spent on extending the runway at Waterford Regional Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20218/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together. ​

As I mentioned in my composite reply to Question Nos. 517, 567 and 568 on 21 June last, Waterford Airport receives substantial Exchequer support under the Regional Airports Programme that is administered by my Department. This Programme also supports the other three regional airports in Counties Donegal, Mayo and Kerry with funding but only in relation to the implementation of necessary safety and security related projects and activities. 

Development projects at the airports which are designed to expand capacity are a commercial matter for the airports themselves and are outside the scope of the Programme.  In the case of the proposed runway extension at Waterford, I understand that the airport authorities are pursuing local interests for funding in relation to that project.

The extra €10 million in the Programme for Government is for capital funding and will enhance my Department's ability to further support safety and security related investments by the four regional airports. This brings to €38 million (was €28m) the amount provided in the Capital Plan 2016-2022 for supporting the airports in these important areas and, as I said at the Select Committee last week, I would see these extra funds being allocated towards projects over that period, beginning in 2017.

For details of the grant support schemes under the current Regional Airports Programme, I previously referred the Deputy to my Department's website: .