Negotiations on funding between the Government and the board of the South East Regional Airport at Waterford are expected to conclude within days, the airport chairman, Mr Nicholas Fewer, said yesterday.
Speaking after having a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, Mr Fewer said that the airport directors were confident scheduled air services would be restored shortly.
"The board has decided that it is now in a position to go ahead with its programme of capital investment at the airport," Mr Fewer confirmed.
"Over €2 million is to be spent on a series of improvements. The Department of Public Enterprise confirmed in June 2002 that National Development Plan funding of €1,894,500 would be made available for capital development works at the airport in 2002 and 2003.
"Over half of this investment will go towards providing hangar and office facilities for the Irish Coast Guard's search and rescue services operated at the airport by CHC Helicopters Ltd. This will allow the search and rescue facilities to be extended to provide full 24-hour cover for the south-east coast in the very near future, Mr Fewer said.
"Other projects which will now proceed are the provision of new X-ray equipment; runway strip improvements; navigational aids and airfield lighting; rescue services, including vehicles and equipment; weather station; roads and car-parking; extension to apron and new boundary fencing," he added.