The Minister for Transport has signed off on a government memo seeking approval of 5 million euro for Waterford Airport.
The memo will now be circulated to members of Cabinet with each department invited to make observations on the funding.
Minister of State John Halligan says if approved the money will go towards a runway extension for the airport.
He says final approval is likely in a little over a fortnight.
This follows a visit to Waterford Airport by Minister Ross last month, where he met with board members and management and, separately, with a number of business leaders from the South East.
The runway extension will cost €12 million in total, with the remaining €7 million to be provided by private investors and local authorities in the region. Cabinet approval is required to sanction the €5 million from Government and, prior to this, a memorandum must be circulated by Minister Ross to all other departments inviting them to make observations.
Minister Halligan said this memo has been approved by Minister Ross today and other departments will now have two weeks to examine the proposal, after which Minister Ross will bring it to Cabinet for final approval:
“I am delighted with Minister Ross’ confidence in this Waterford project. The extension of the runway at Waterford Airport, which is crucial if the airport is to facilitate large jets, is something that I’ve been working towards since I entered Government. I have held several meetings with the Taoiseach on the issue and he has indicated his support. I am also confident that other Government ministers will support the project when it comes to Cabinet, having already held talks on the issue with a number of them.
“In recent weeks, I met with ministers Heather Humphreys, Michael Ring and Eoghan Murphy, who have policy responsibility relating to regional and enterprise development, to argue the case for Waterford Airport and explain to them in detail how great this opportunity is for the region.
“All three ministers are in agreement with me regarding the potential benefits that extending the runway at Waterford Airport presents, in terms of boosting rural development, helping attract overseas companies to the region and creating new employment opportunities and assisting Waterford to expand as an urban centre as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
“Furthermore, Minister Ross travelled to Waterford Airport last month on my invitation, to discuss the runway extension plans and the massive opportunity that this development plan presents to Waterford and the South East with airport management and board. A number of enterprise leaders in the region also met with us that day to discuss the need for targeted infrastructural investment in the region in order to improve its direct connectivity, drive enterprise growth and increase overseas tourism numbers. Both groups presented a highly compelling case to Minister Ross regarding the massive potential to develop the South East as a key tourism destination and business investment gateway and Minister Ross left Waterford in no doubt whatsoever that this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Waterford Airport to develop to its potential.”
