Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

A total of €100 million will be available for investment in development and safety related infrastructure in regional airports, including Knock, under the Transport 21 framework. As well as the continuation of grant assistance for essential safety and security capital expenditure, all six regional airports will be eligible for targeted investment where demand for additional air services can be demonstrated and where an economic case can be made to justify increased investment. A new grant scheme is being devised and all regional airports will be consulted by my Department before the revised grant scheme is finalised. Apart from capital investment, the regional airports will continue to benefit from a range of non-capital support measures, such as operational grant assistance and public service obligation, PSO, air services.

Officials from my Department are working closely with the management at Ireland West Airport Knock and the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, to ascertain the precise scope of the infrastructure required to allow the airport to conform with all relevant safety standards as it develops into the future. Funding for runway safety improvements and enhanced navigational aids was provisionally approved under the national development plan in February 2005. Project specifications and costings in respect of the approved works are awaited from the airport. A final decision on the funding proposal cannot be made until the Department has an opportunity to consider the IAA approved specifications and thereby assess the relevant costings.

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