Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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558. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed runway extension at Waterford Regional Airport; if capital funding will be provided to supplement funding from Waterford City and County Council and investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8072/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy will know, in early 2018, my Department procured the services of independent consultants, Ernst & Young (EY) to advise on the future options for Waterford Airport.  As part of this examination, EY considered a proposal submitted by the airport to extend its runway, which included a request for Exchequer support.

In early October 2018, a copy of EY's review was provided to the airport and they were invited to respond to its findings and to provide any additional information which might strengthen the airport's position in relation to the runway proposal.

That response, received from the Airport in January, is currently being reviewed by my Department and being assessed against national aviation and transport policy objectives as well as broader Government policies, such as Project Ireland 2040.  Once this final phase of the review process concludes, it is my intention to revert to Government for a decision on the matter in the coming weeks.