An application was submitted 12 months ago to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport applying for capital funding to extend the runway at Waterford Airport, at a cost of €5 million to the Exchequer with matched funding of €7 million from the local authorities and investors in the south east. The Minister, Deputy Ross, signed off on a Government memo that paved the way for Exchequer funding. I believe he circulated a memo to all other Departments inviting observations. Is there any update? The sooner funds are in place the sooner work can begin on this vital infrastructure for the south east. I believe the Ministers, Deputies Murphy and Humphreys, support it.

All of us in the south east have been pushing to have the airport extended. It has received substantial moneys in recent years, even when there were no flights. Since 2016, more than €1.1 million has been received. The Minister, Deputy Ross, was in Waterford a number of months ago where he met the airport board, members of Enterprise Ireland and businesses in Waterford. They all put forward the case for the extension of the runway. As the Deputy is also aware, two private investors and a number of councils have put forward moneys that total €7 million. The latest development is that this has been brought to Cabinet. No decision has yet been made by the Government but it will be brought to the Cabinet shortly.