Matt Shanahan TD has told RTÉ’s Late Debate there is a strong business case for Waterford airport, that they are not looking for a new airport, but a runway extension to the “busiest private airport in the country.”
In 2012, more than 77,000 passengers used the airport, but by 2016 when flights by VLM, the last commercial airline to use the airport were suspended, this was down to 13,500.
Deputy Shannon claimed: “The airport that’s housing the South East rescue helicopter, Rescue 117, and we’ve been working for a number of years on a proposal to bring in passenger jet traffic into Waterford. That proposal was contingent on bringing in private investment which has been secured to the tune of €12m. So this project has been de-risked by 50pc.”
“This is strategic infrastructure for the south east region to deliver an economic benefit. People – believe it or not – who live in the south of the country, don’t really want to come to Dublin to fly if they have an alternative.We can service that and we also build employment in the region but for a very strange reason, it seems there are people in Government who do not see that as a progressive move.”
“In the past four years of this Government, the National Aviation Authority have spent €200m supporting regional airports and Waterford did not get a penny.”
