Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

No, it is money that came in. I will explain the dividend in case anyone does not understand it. The issue arose when I was speaking to the Minister for Finance during budget negotiations. He and I agreed that if I could negotiate a special divided from the IAA, it would be welcome because it would be additional money and the authority was getting a dividend. When we agreed on that, I went to the IAA. The IAA had a vast cash pile in the bank. The view was that the State could make use of that money rather than have it in the IAA coffers. The IAA agreed to give us a dividend, all other things being equal, of €12 million per annum. The Minister for Finance agreed that we would split that with €6 million for the Exchequer and €6 million for the Department. When that was agreed we had a certain amount that was extra. Some €1.5 million of that went to the regional airports.