Those behind plans to expand Waterford Airport have called on the Government to commit to fund the project, saying it will help take pressure off Dublin with its passenger cap.
However, environmental groups have said the focus should be on cutting emissions and not airport extensions.
It is relatively quiet at Waterford Airport on the day we visit - it has been like that for some time now.
Parked up on the runway are some small twin engine planes. The Irish Coastguard also uses this as a base for the southeast of the country.
But the emptiness inside the airport building, with its stacked trolleys and vacant seats, tell of a different, busier time.
The airport opened in 1981. Four years later it was the scene of some aviation history, when a then little known Irish airline that went by the name Ryanair took its first flight.
The Waterford-Luton route ran daily back then. The return price was IR£190, compared to the around IR£210 Aer Lingus was offering.
As is the case with many regional airports, airlines came and went down through the years at Waterford.
Its busiest period was in the 2000s. Over 140,000 passengers passed through in 2008 alone, but as routes fell away, so did the footfall.
Ryanair is well gone from here and in 2016, the Belgian carrier, VLM, pulled out and it has not had a scheduled passenger service since.
Those who run the airport though are hoping for a brighter future, with a renewed focus now on their plans to upgrade it.
The plan, essentially, is to expand the runway by around 500 metres to allow for modern traffic.
"The main goal for us is to allow the airport to take a jet aircraft, which will obviously open up many avenues, and to be able to give the local public what they want," says William Bolster, director of the airport.
The project, they say, will cost around €28 million. €3m are due to come from the local government, with €12.5m slated to come from both private investment and central Government.
"We have a fantastic foundation here already laid for a strategic infrastructure project for the southeast. We’re in ongoing talks with the Government to try and secure the funding.
"We're now calling on the Government to commit to that funding and to allow us to proceed with our project here," said Mr Bolster.
There is increased interest in the plans too, because of the ongoing controversy around the cap on passenger numbers at the extremely busy Dublin Airport.
Mr Bolster says his airport, and others like it, can relieve some of the pressure off the capital.
"I think Waterford and all the regional airports can pay their part, giving people an option to go from their regions and to travel in and out. We can compliment Dublin Airport in all sorts of ways.
"Dublin is a fantastic airport, and always will be, but the regions have a massive influence on what can happen going forward."
The project is generating lots of talk in the region.
"We know from our surveys that we have a demand there of 650,000 people within an hour drive of Waterford Airport. The public have really spoken out. It's now become an election issue in the local area to get the project moving," said Mr Bolster.
While local support is evident, there is, too, opposition to the plans.
"There is just no room to build any infrastructure that encourages more pollution," said Oisín Coghlan, chief executive of Friends of the Earth.
"Given how fast climate breakdown is accelerating, just look at the deaths in Spain from flash-flooding, we know if you build a bigger airport, the incentive for everyone, indeed the business imperative, is to try to get more and more people to use it, so as to get value for the investment," he added.
"We just can’t afford to encourage more pollution now. We need all sectors, including aviation, to be laser-focused on how they are going to slash their emissions in order to protect our children’s future, which climate breakdown is actively threatening," he said.
The Government, too, have concerns over the plans.
In a statement, the Minister of State and the Department of Transport, James Lawless, pointed to the rise in costs associated with the plan.
"It needs to be recognised that the project costs have increased substantially to €27m, above the original estimated cost of €12m proposed by the airport, which informed the government decision in June 2019," he said.
That "decision" referred to is the one which gave an approval in principle to the project. He also said the airport has received substantial funding down through the years.
"Since 2003 Waterford Airport has benefited from almost €26m in Exchequer funding. Any future investment would need to be contingent on significant, evidence based, demonstration that sufficient demand and industry commitment exists for Waterford Airport to facilitate regular scheduled passenger services," he said.
The Minister said he was a "strong supporter" of regional airports and that the proper processes had to be followed.
"Due diligence is important. Some may argue also that given the level of private investment being proposed to support this development, that such due diligence is not required by the State.
"However, it needs to be recognised that the rational and objective of investment for any prospective private investor may differ from that of the Government.
"Without delving into matters, such as commercially sensitive conditions associated with the proposed private investment, it is reasonable to expect that the State would have its investment protected also," he said.
"Compliance with State aid rules on funding to regional airports must also be considered," he added.
It is also understood that annual subvention costs are on the minds of officials who are currently going through the business plan.
The Minister has said he has "engaged intensely" with the backers of the project and with a view to giving this proposal "the best possible outcome".
"As I have said previously, I continue to have an open mind on this proposal," he said.
It is clear that this is a hot topic in Waterford and surrounding areas. Earlier this month, the Minister had to apologise after he had described the airport’s business plan as a "pig in a poke".
It is also evident that at a local level at least, this issue will likely feature on the campaign trail in the upcoming general election.
On one side of debate, there will be those backing the 'build it and they will come' approach who point to the associated local benefits. There will be others too, though, that are wary about just how successful and costly the project would be.
There will be, of course, those also who point to the environmental concerns, and those who counter the project could help ease congestion at Dublin Airport.
Plotting a path forward for Waterford Airport is proving to be no easy task.
