Four members of the Regional Group of TDs, along with former Aer Arann owner and Shannon Group chaiperson, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, met with Waterford Airport Management yesterday in advance of the business plan being prepared for the Government.
The prospectus being prepared is to extend the existing runway to cater to passenger jet traffic including Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.
The TDs in attendance were Matt Shanahan, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, and Cathal Berry.
"I believe in Waterford Airport. I believe in this region.
"When I owned Aer Arran, we actually started services out of here to Brittany and Luton and we got great community support. It is absolutely key for the infrastructure.
"The return on investment the taxpayer in this state will get if they extend this runway to take the Ryanair jets is huge [and] in figures I have calculated, they will get €5 back for every €1 of investment."
Government approval
Matt Shanahan says 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 timeline for 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.
Speaking to WLR, Shanahan says some issues still need to be addressed.
We looked at figures yesterday, and there are very significant economic benefits to doing this project, but the question here now is the political will, and I think at this stage it requires all of the Southeast Oireachtas members to push not just this project, but for all projects in the region that need to be developed.
"It has taken a good bit of time and there are some complex issues involved in it, not least the CPO of lands [being included] to assist the extension and widening of the runway.
"That is all now largely in place, and the final pieces have been put together, which is due to go before the department in the next two weeks, and from there, it is to be considered by the cabinet for funding approval."
Timeline
Deputy Shanahan says work on the runway extension needs to commence sooner rather than later.
He added: "There are constraints in terms of development timelines, if building work is to commence it needs to start happening in the summer months, otherwise we end up in a difficult position later in the year in terms of the runway and weather conditions.
"It has taken a good bit of time and there are some complex issues involved in it, not least the CPO of lands [being included] to assist the extension and widening of the runway.
"The idea would be hopefully to get an early decision and that is what we need."
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