Written answers
Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Airport Policy
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding provided to Ireland West Airport Knock under the various schemes and investment programmes for our regional airports since 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/23]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the table below, between 2011 and 2022, Ireland West Airport was granted over €40m in funding from my Department through various schemes, the majority of which are under the Regional Airports Programme.
The Regional Airports Programme targets Exchequer support towards safety and security related projects and activities at Ireland’s smallest regional airports i.e., those that provide connectivity and handle fewer than 1 million passengers on average, over the preceding two years. This investment supports our airports’ compliance with EU safety and security related obligations. In addition, funding is provided to support projects with a sustainability focus, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.
In addition, in recognition of the difficulties faced by airports during COVID, my Department put in place an EU approved COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish airports. In 2021 Ireland West Airport was granted over €2.8m under this Scheme, which compensated the airport for the damage caused to it by COVID.
Government is committed to continuing to support our regional airports. In relation to the funding available under the Regional Airports Programme in 2023, I was pleased to announce a capital funding allocation of over €5m to Ireland West Airport in March. Operational funding will also be made available to regional airports later this year under the Programme. My Department will be inviting eligible airports, including Ireland West, to make applications for operational funding later this year. In line with previous years, it is anticipated that this operational funding will be dispersed in early December.
Aviation Exchequer Supports to Ireland West Airport 2011-2022
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEX | €233,282 | €699,008 | €2,013,023 | €1,925,413 | - | €1,201,045 | €502,361 | €1,476,839 | €6,702,288 | €553,295 | €1,725,054 | €1,242,016 | €18,273,623 |
| PPR-C | - | - | - | - | €564,622 | €764,609 | €828,555 | €782,704 | €1,044,099 | €329,740 | €448,510 | €1,081,845 | €5,844,684 |
| PPR-O | - | - | - | - | €598,349 | €967,765 | €1,868,439 | €1,916,563 | €1,736,516 | €1,353,859 | €1,017,826 | €1,787,797 | €11,247,114 |
| OPEX | €431,907 | €589,644 | €654,576 | €548,600 | -- | - | - | - | €2,224,727 | ||||
| Covid Supplementary Support Scheme | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | €2,805,709 | - | €2,805,709 |
| Total | €665,189 | €1,288,652 | €2,667,599 | €2,474,013 | €1,162,971 | €2,933,419 | €3,199,355 | €4,176,106 | €9,482,903 | €2,236,894 | €5,997,098 | €4,111,658 | €40,395,857 |
| Funding | Scheme | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Airports Programme | CAPEX | Funding safety and security related capital expenditure of an economic nature |
| PPR-C | Scheme in place since 2015 - Funding capital expenditure for services that normally fall within a 'Public Policy Remit' and generate no economic return for an airport, for example Fire Service, Air Traffic Control and Security | |
| PPR-O | Scheme in place since 2015 - Funding operational expenditure that normally fall within a 'Public Policy Remit' (as above) | |
| OPEX | Scheme in place up until 2020 - Funding safety and security related operational expenditure of an economic nature - no airports eligible since 2016 Scheme | |
| Exceptional Supports | Covid Supplementary Support Scheme | During the COVID crisis, the EU’s Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the emergency of COVID-19, and Article 107(2)(b) of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), provided the basis for funding under a COVID Supplementary Supports Scheme for Irish Airports in 2021. |
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