Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Can I ask the Minister about the civil aviation programme? He talked about the costs associated with membership of Eurocontrol and costs incurred by the Irish Aviation Authority for certain services and subscriptions to international organisations. Correct me if I am wrong, but is the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, not a net contributor to the Department? Did it not pay a dividend of approximately €12 million to the Department last year which the Minister used as part of a supplementary budget? Perhaps the Minister will correct me if I have the figure wrong because I am working from memory. Does the Minister envisage there will be a contribution from the IAA this year? Will any such contribution be ring-fenced for the aviation sector or is the Minister free to use it across various headings within his remit?

There is an increase in funding to our regional airports despite the fact that passenger traffic through our regional airports has remained fairly static over the past four or five years. Can the Minister identify the purpose of the increase in funding? Is it for safety improvement measures or what is the increase for? How will the benefits of the increased funding be measured?

The national aviation policy states that an overall freight policy for Ireland, covering all modes, will be developed with a view to ensuring the continued competitiveness of the freight sector. Given the realities of Brexit and potential need for a greater reliance on air freight in the future, what is the status of that overall freight policy? What is the status of the air cargo strategies that are being developed by the various State airports?

I also want to ask about the construction of the second runway at Dublin Airport and auxiliary buildings and services that have to be constructed. Can the Minister confirm that the funding for all that will be self-financing in that the funding will come from the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA?