Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his questions. We have had many conversations and the Deputy has highlighted, as have other colleagues, the importance and viability of Shannon Airport. This relates not only to aviation but the whole mid-west region, hospitality and foreign direct investment. I thank the committee for its efforts and assistance in keeping the focus on the mid-west region and the need to support our airport infrastructure as a starting point. Since the airports reopened on 19 July, our focus must now move to enabling Shannon Airport and our other airports to deal directly with airlines. That is where the €90 million allocation comes in. The decision on its approval is currently with the European Commission because it needs state aid approval. I will explain the background to the €90 million allocation. The previous allocation was €20 million for a Covid-19 damages scheme for Irish airports. It was specific to Covid-19 but we must continue to support our airports and aviation sector. We are an island nation. We do not have the benefit of having an rail link with other European countries. We rely on aviation. That is one part of the package.

Regarding the regional airports programme, as the Deputy will know, previously Kerry Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock and Donegal Airport came under the regional airports programme because they had fewer than 1 million passengers per year. Shannon Airport now comes under that programme, as does Cork Airport. Some €36 million was provided as part of the regional airports programme. If Shannon Airport's passenger numbers remain under 1 million per year - not that we would want that - it will remain under the regional airports programme. The Government has indicated we will continue to consider every sector as we come out of this pandemic to ensure all of them are supported.