Ciara Conway Welcomes Waterford Airport Funding
Issued : Wednesday 4 January, 2012
Areas : Waterford , South East , Ireland
Labour T.D. for Waterford, Ciara Conway is welcoming news that Waterford Airport is one of six regional airports to benefit from funds of over €5,392,334 to cover operating costs incurred in 2011.
The money is being allocated under the Regional Airports Operational Expenditure (OPEX) Subvention Scheme, and will be shared among airports at Waterford, Donegal, Knock , Galway , Kerry and Sligo.
“All announcements of funding are welcome in the current climate,”according to Ciara Conway T.D.
“And in this case the Minister for Transport and Tourism, Minister Varadker , has announced that Waterford airport will be eligible to apply for annual funding up until the end of 2014. Approval has also been given to set aside a €17 million pool of cash that regional airports can apply for, to help them meet national and international security and safety standards.
Waterford Airport is very important for the South East as a region. It opens the region up to business and tourism, and as such, is very important from the point of view of creating and maintaining employment here. The recently published South East Region Enterprise Action Plan acknowledges this , but stresses that there is a challenge in the form of securing business friendly services that are faster and more convenient that Dublin, Cork or Shannon Airports.
In addition, the Transport Minister is warning that all regional airports are expected to work towards achieving operational viability over the coming years.
So Waterford Airport certainly has challenges ahead but I would hope that it can meet these, and that we can continue to benefit from this service in the future.“
