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THE DEPARTMENT OF Transport is pulling annual emergency payments to Waterford Airport, placing the future of the company in doubt.
It said the payments “cannot be continued” in light of the “radically changed outlook” caused by Covid-19. It also raised doubts over a promised €5m funding for a runway extension granted in 2019, owing to the pandemic and a lack of commercial flights at the airport.
The emergency payments, totalling €1.5m over three years, were provided between 2018 to 2020, however, no money has been paid out for the current year.
The stance arose from parliamentary questions asked by Waterford TD David Cullinane, who was told by the Minister of State for Transport Hildegard Naughton that the pandemic will now affect future spending on the airport, particularly as it has lacked commercial flights since 2016.
Earlier this week the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation was laid bare by Aer Lingus, with the company losing more than €1m a day still. Its chief executive told the Oireachtas on Tuesday that its Irish operations will be smaller “for some time to come”, having also closed one of its regional bases at Shannon Airport.
Addressing questions by Mr Cullinane, Ms Naughton said that in the absence of flights Waterford Airport “fails to meet the connectivity objective” set out by Government policy on regional airports.
“While some operational payments to Waterford airport were made on an exceptional basis between 2018 and 2020 in anticipation of the return of scheduled services, the radically changed outlook for the return of such services means that such payments cannot be continued and Waterford Airport have been advised of this position.”
The payments were to ensure the continuation of Search and Rescue services at the airport as well as covering general aviation services while the 900m runway extension was being constructed.
A decision on this is expected in the coming weeks from An Bord Pleanála with the hope being that, if granted, it would attract commercial carriers for the airport.
Ms Naughton confirmed that “any renewal of a commitment” to provide funds of €5m will have to take into account “changed circumstances” arising from delays to the project, along with the impacts of Covid on the aviation market and wider economy.
Costing €12m in total, the other monies for the runway extension are to be provided by a local consortium of regional companies combined with local councils in Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny.
However the private sector funding for the runway extension has been in doubt as talks have stalled, and Sinn Féin TD Mr Cullinane said the ball is now in the court of these investors and the local authorities.
“We either take the leap now or we don’t. It’s crunch time and the other funders need to decide whether they want to press ahead with Waterford Airport, and it needs to be decided whether the airport can be sustainable and viable.”
Without the State’s emergency payments, the company would also “wither on the vine”, Mr Cullinane added.
“Nobody wants to see the airport go, but a decision needs to be made and timelines need to be outlined by those investors.”
The news was greeted with disappointment by Waterford City and County Council, whose chief executive sits on the board of the airport.
A council spokeswoman said: “While Waterford Council is disappointed with the news about the withdrawal of support for maintenance, we remain committed to the development of the airport and will work with the board of Waterford Airport and the Department of Transport to deliver the maximum benefit for Waterford and the South East region.”
Waterford Airport did not respond when contacted.
A spokesman for Wexford County Council said it is deeply aware of the significance of Waterford Airport in the context of the economic development of the South East.
He added that while the council does not have a formal funding commitment to the runway extension, it is prepared to cooperate with the other neighbouring councils to “consider providing an element of the match funding required” along with government funding and private sector investment.
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Waterford and the south east region had been dumped on once again.north quays project pulled,stand alone university pulled,waterford airport pulled.the region is crying out for it’s fair share to what the other regions are getting from government.waterford is the forgotten city.
@hawk: you forgot about a 2nd class regional hospital, the south east is like the black hole of Calcutta
@John Power: actually yes I forgot to add bodies decomposing in corridors in our hospital and don’t dare have a heart attack over the weekend as out nearest hospital is then cork city nearly two hours away.
There’s an airport in Waterford!?
@Jon Kelly: yep imagine that,it also started off Ryanair to become what it is today and saved them on numerous occasions and maintaining their slot from waterford to London
@hawk: and you’d think that a multi billion company like Ryanair might be willing to remember it’s roots and help out. But there is no money in for them so no.
Maybe an advanced loan to get the runway extension done and paid back through free landing fees when the runway is long enough for a 737.
A fabulous airport in an ideal location to serve all the south east. How the government don’t plough money into its development is beyond belief. This airport should have the same traffic passing through it as knock or Kerry airports. A well populated area the south east is I don’t believe it would be left to rot if it was up and running but the government are doing their best to close it down. Shame on them.
@James Fox:
Only used it once. Completely the wrong side of the city for most potential users in the SE. Down badly sign posted back roads and slap in the middle of a fog pocket. Couldn’t put it the right side of the city, because that was in Kilkenny. My return journey meant flying over the little puddle of fog, on to Cork and then a long uncomfortable ride in an old Hiace mini bus, all the way back to Waterford, where our plane had long since landed, with pilot and crew only.
@Nicholas Grubb: I’d say you fold your underwear after ironing it.
@James Fox: Comment of the day my friend….
Government dragged its heels pre covid on the runway extension with delay after delay now we find ourselves in this situation now.
Waterford & the South-East being shafted by FG once again.
One of the best colleges in Ireland WIT being forced into a merger with vastly inferior Carlow IT.
UHW being underfunded & downgraded at every opportunity by the Cork hospital management.
& the region getting a fraction of the investment going to more politically favoured regions.
Maybe Sinn Fein’s plan to run 3 candidates in the constituency next time out isn’t that farfetched because you’d want to be an absolute eejit to vote for FF or FG.
Only a matter of time and Ireland should have internal Electric Aircraft routes. Government should be preparing for this eventuality.
Are we still pretending UN Agenda 21, Agenda 2030, Agenda 2050, Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium Development Goals….. are “Conspiracy Theory”???
Asking for a friend.
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/outcomedocuments/agenda21
@Special_Ed: please now.
We have a country the size of a postage stamp. We have good Airports in Cork, Shannon and Dublin. We don’t need anymore airport infrastructure. The people of Waterford aren’t being shafted, its ludicrous to expect this type of infrastructure in every part of Ireland. Have a look at the distribution of Airports in the rest of European, even in very well connected countries like France and Germany. Airports like this simply wouldn’t be built. Reality isn’t being shafted.we have all been shafted for 30 years with singlendwelling planning permissions being handed out like confetti and the resulting huge infrastructure costs for providing services.
Ireland is a small country, we do not need so many airports. Cork and Dublin airports are easy to get too from Waterford. Better to spend the money upgrading the rail connection and providing a decent bus service. Air is glamorous but bus and train is far better. I would add that the eco problems are huge as well. This is not a matter of dumping on Waterford but making the decisions on how to best spend scarce development money. We have enough white elephants.
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