I don't see why NOC needs to expand as all it needs is for slots to be spread out for airlines
True, I'm sure they try. But they are only managing to balance the books by operating short day shifts, and as most NOC routes are seen as low yield the airlines aren't rushing to offer prescious morning and evening slots. Lack of public transport may also be an issue.
Why should taxpayer have to pay for this as NOC is a commercial airport so it should be funding its own expansion
Whatever about operating efficiently avoiding taxpayer subsidy, it's fairly safe to say none of the Irish regionals would exist without some form of capital investment, if only to maintain current services.
If NOC is growing and fulfilling it's role as (now the only) direct gateway into the region then there is some justification in support to maintain a major regional transport asset that would otherwise struggle to self fund large capital works. Irish regionals don't have the critical mass, group backing or ancillary business income to fully self fund major infrastructure projects as far as I can see.
Previous government set aside funding for capital projects as part of the NDP, a small fraction of the billions put into road and rail infrastructure. DOT still have a (much reduced) budget for part matched funding of capital projects to maintain "safety and security" projects. Last year funding was provided to overlay and upgrade CFN runway and extend turn-pad at KIR, WAT and GWY had similar grants the year before.
The argument as to wether or not DAA airports self fund can be argued both ways, if they pay a dividend to the state great, if they run up debts and don't then the state makes a potential loss. Shannon had it's own taxpayer funded development agency, and will have debts written down by the parent group shortly. So it's all apples and oranges.