Total cost of extension is estimated at €24m
There have been no commercial scheduled airline services at Waterford Airport since 2016
Construction of an extension to Waterford Airport’s runway is now likely not to start until next year at the earliest as the Government continues to consider a €12m financial contribution for the project.
Jack Chambers, the junior transport minister, said this week that an updated submission in relation to the proposed funding was received by his department from the airport on April 23.
However, that additional outstanding supporting material was received last Monday.
“While this detail has addressed a number of matters raised, some detail remains outstanding,” he told Independent TD Matt Shanahan in a written response to a query on the funding.
“Officials are continuing to engage with airport management on these matters. Timely responses from the airport to all information sought will have a bearing on the timeframe for the completion of this present review.”
Last December, Galway’s billionaire Comer brothers confirmed they are making €12m of private funds available for the extension project in conjunction with the Bolster Group as part of a deal that will see the Comer Group take a major stake in the airport.
Officials are continuing to engage with airport management
Waterford Airport hasn’t had commercial scheduled airline services since 2016.
The runway extension will enable it to handle jets such as variants of the Boeing 737 that are used by Ryanair, which launched its first ever flight from the airport in 1985.
Talks have already been held with a number of airlines that would be potentially interested in providing services at Waterford if the runway extension is completed.
It has previously been estimated that the airport could handle around 345,000 passengers a year within five years of the runway extension being completed.
It will cost in the region of €25m, which is around double the cost of the project when the government first approved €5m in funding in 2019.
“In June 2019, the then government gave an approval in principle of an expression of support for development at Waterford Airport and to providing exchequer funding of €5m towards this development project,” said Mr Chambers.
“Government support was not only contingent on local authority and private investment necessary to complete the project being committed and any risks relating to cost escalation being borne by the non-state investors, but also on full details of the project being provided to my department for appraisal.
“Despite engagement with the airport over the intervening period, this detail remained outstanding from Waterford Airport until December 13, 2023.”
