Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he is awaiting the outcome of deliberations by the Department of Transport on Waterford Airport and will take each project “one step at a time”.

He was speaking to WLR at Cork Airport this afternoon as a €200m Capital Development Plan for the airport was launched.

The ambitious plan includes construction of a new new mezzanine floor with state-of-the-art passenger security area; a new and larger duty free shop; a new and larger executive lounge; the construction of additional boarding gates; the construction of a new solar farm; the extension of the existing car parks; the demolition of the old terminal and old control tower allowing the construction of a new pier with more boarding gates and aircraft parking stands.

In response to a query on long-awaited government investment in Waterford Airport, An Taoiseach said: “We’re working on that, the Minister is working on it, Mary Butler has been in touch with me about it and we’ve been in touch with Minister Darragh O’Brien. We’ll take each project one step at a time and obviously it’s being worked on within the Department.”

Asked if any positive announcement could be expected in the near future, An Taoiseach said it was “a matter that’s being worked on by the Department at the moment” adding that he would “await the outcome of the deliberations by Minister O’Brien and the Department.”

An Taoiseach described today as “a momentous day for Cork Airport which emphasises the importance of the airport to both the regional and national economy”.

“Cork Airport has become a critical component of our national transport infrastructure and as Ireland’s fastest growing airport, its continued development is paramount,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the benefits of this plan will only bring further growth to what is already a thriving airport.”

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