MEP wants urgent funding for airport in the South East

A newly-elected MEP wants an effective airport in the South East of Ireland…

According to Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, the clock is ticking for Waterford airport. The newly elected MEP has called for immediate action from the Department of Transport on funding for an airport runway extension at the airport. 

According to Ní Mhurchú, there is a 12 million private investment proposal on the table but those investors will not wait around forever.

She has called on Minister Eamon Ryan to expedite the process to release funding which will allow for the runway extension at Waterford airport. 

Ní Mhurchú has vowed to fight to ensure Waterford airport becomes a key part of the infrastructure in the South East, 

“A runway extension will enable Waterford airport to handle jets such as those that are used by Ryanair. I have asked Michael O’ Leary for a meeting to discuss Waterford airport. There is no reason as to why Waterford airport cannot become a hub serving the needs of the South East. We need to facilitate the return of commercial flights at Waterford Airport for the first time in seven years. 

“We need match funding from the Minister to drive the investment on. I am today calling on Minister Ryan to engage with stakeholders to get the airport up and running again” 

Ní Mhurchú  pointed out that airports bring jobs, investment and a functioning airport in the South East and would allow our pharmaceutical industry in the South East to export their products from Waterford. 

“It makes no sense driving two hours up the road to an over heated Dublin airport, when we have our own airport right here in the South East,” she said.

Ní Mhurchú has also reiterated her previous statements on the potential for Waterford airport to become  Ireland’s first dedicated centre for aerospace research and development in collaboration with the South East Technological University (SETU). Ní Mhurchú, a board member at the SETU,  got behind a report which concluded that Waterford airport would be an ideal base for Ireland’s first dedicated centre for aerospace research and development.