Funding for an extention of the Runway at Waterford Airport is unlikely according to the Department of Transport.
Graham Doyle, Secretary General of the Department have said that it would be impossible under current policy.
Sinn Fein TD, David Cullinane raised the issue today at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee.
Cullinane said it's extremely important to the future of the Airport and the region
"We know that if the airport is to have any longterm viability it does need to see an extension to the runway to cater for larger aircraft and open up new opportunities in terms of Aircraft carriers and routes.
What he said today was that if there was a change in policy nationally, then there would be the potential to invest more in regional airports including on issues like captial spend on infrastructure like runway extensions.
That puts the onus back on Shane Ross, it puts the onus back on the Government."
He continued,
"An element of funding has always been giving to Waterford Airport and recently €800,000 was allocated but actual substantial funding to build a runway hasn't been given and that needs to happen if the Airport has any long term viablility.
What the Secretary General is saying, unless we have a change in policy it is unlikely and in fact impossible for his department to be able to a runway extension in Waterford."
