Government support 'vital' for proposed extension of Waterford Airport runway

Government support is vital for the proposed extension of the existing runway at Waterford Airport, according to a local TD. 

Four members of the Regional Group of TDs along with retired senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh met with Waterford Airport management on Monday in advance of a funding grant proposal being prepared for Government.

The business prospectus being prepared is to extend the existing runaway at Waterford to cater to passenger jet traffic including Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

Deputies Murphy, Berry, Lowry and Shanahan along with Aer Arann founder Pádraig Ó Céidigh received a full briefing from the airport management regarding the developing plan to extend the runway facilities and built infrastructure to cater to passenger traffic.

In addition there is significant potential for the airport to cater to the needs of a number of wind farm proposals being developed for the South and East Coast as well as to provide additional freight options using Waterford as the access link to the national motorway network.

"Government support is vital to the development of this runway proposal which will provide a significant aviation footprint to the southeast region," Deputy Matt Shanahan said.

"Anyone looking at Joe Biden landing in Knock in recent weeks should think as to how that airport has transformed the economic area of the northwest - that was an airport built that was significantly resistant at the time. Waterford airport is in a similar position and needs government to step up to the mark and support capital and infrastructural development in the southeast region to which they have stated themselves committed for the past number of years," Deputy Shanahan said.

He added that he has the full support of his Regional Group colleagues to see this project succeed who are concerned with regional development throughout the country.

"The timelines to government receipt of the finished funding prospectus is thought to be a matter of two to three weeks and supporters will be looking for a response as soon as possible as developments need to begin within the summer months to meet the envisaged construction schedule," Deputy Shanahan said.