Waterford Fine Gael Senator and General Election candidate John Cummins, who is a former member of the board at Waterford Airport has described comments by Minister Lawless as disrespectful and has questioned his understanding of the proposal which has been put forward to the Department of Transport.
Senator Cummins said “I was shocked by the comments of Minister Lawless yesterday in the Dail because they are completely at odds with Taoiseach Simon Harris’s position, as articulated on Waterford radio in the last couple of weeks. To me the comments are disrespectful, and it is not clear to me that there is an understanding or an appreciation of what is being proposed by the airport”.
“To question the forward projections of passenger traffic because they are in excess of the airports best year in 2008 is a complete misnomer. The 2008 passenger traffic was achieved using 30, 50 and 70 seat aircraft. The business plan for Waterford Airport is to lengthen and widen the runway to enable it to cater for A320 and B737 aircraft which are capable of carrying up to 190 passengers per flight”.
Speaking recently Taoiseach Simon Harris said “I’m in favour of the Waterford Airport Project, I think it makes sense, the idea of the 50:50 funding. I believe it would be transformational for the South East Region, just like the university has the ability to be, particularly now that we have the veterinary college going in there as well. I’d like to see the proposal happen. I know there’s a process to go through, I know they have to follow all the Infrastructure guidelines and the likes
As you say, they now have the initial assessment, the 2 ministers. I think it would be useful if we could have a quick outcome to that but one way or the other, in the time ahead and certainly from my own party’s perspective I’m fully committed to the Waterford Airport Project. I think it’s logical, I think it makes sense and I think it can make a real impact”.
Senator Cummins said “I was on the board of the airport from 2014-2019 and we made the correct decision to go after the runway extension project as opposed to chasing a smaller and smaller pool of operators capable of utilising the existing runway. In 2019 sanction was approved by cabinet for €5 million in funding which was to be matched by €5 million in private sector funding and €2 million from the Local Authorities. Five years later we now have planning approved, CPO’s confirmed and detailed design complete in accordance with Irish Aviation standards. As a result of this and cost inflation, the project has doubled, however it is still excellent value for money in my view and will ensure regional connectivity to the South East”.
“I have done my homework in getting the support of the party leader and Taoiseach for this project. My party Fine Gael want to see this project happen and I will be ensuring it is in our party manifesto for the upcoming General Election. It is for Fianna Fail and the Green Party to outline their party’s position on Waterford Airport but it has always been and will continue to be one of my main infrastructure priorities”.
In conclusion Senator Cummins said “I have been seeking a debate on aviation policy in Seanad Eireann for several months now. I have raised the matter on the order of business at least four, if not five times and it seems Minister Ryan and Minister Lawless have shied away thus far from coming in to debate this important topic”.