Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak about regional aviation and regional airports. There were many challenges facing our regional airport sector and aviation before the pandemic. They have been considerably accentuated over the past 15 months. We have seen how fragile our aviation sector is, in spite of the fine tradition we have. That fine tradition and those foundations mean we can rebuild stronger and better. The foundations, in terms of its regional support, ability to drive employment creation and identity, are important and it is also important we continue to protect them.

I acknowledge the work the Minister of State has done since her appointment to support Ireland West Airport in Knock, in particular, and the regional aviation sector generally. We can do much more and we should use this opportunity to reset how the State treats regional airports, particularly the non-State regional airports. We should reassess their funding model to give more certainty to airport management and staff. I compliment the staff and management at Ireland West Airport, who have done an enormous job in incredibly difficult circumstances. Many have been put on short time and they were placed on the PUP and various other payments when the airport was closed. The Government has provided support through the standard business supports. Staff are getting ready to reopen and grow the airport once more.

Before Covid, the regional airports, particularly the non-State regional airports, were the Cinderella of the transport sector. We have to get real about integrating them fully by providing State supports similar to the many supports some of the State airports get. Their funding must be provided on a multi-annual basis to enable them to plan operations and capital beyond 12 months. We need route supports for new airlines to add to the existing airlines in our regional airport network.

There were difficulties facing airlines flying aircraft in and out of regional airports before last weekend. Let us use the example of Stobart, regional air connectivity and the PSO issue as a chance to reset the supports we give to airlines to fly in and out of our regional airport network and add new routes.

Ireland West Airport has been a dynamic model for Mayo and the west. Pre-Covid, we were planning the development of a strategic development zone, SDZ, around the airport to make more of the land asset around the airport and provide economic support, infrastructure and planning for the area. The Covid recovery plan and national development plan review offer the Government a chance to support the airport board and Mayo County Council in developing, planning and marketing the SDZ as a place for business.

I congratulate everybody involved in the EirTrade Aviation initiative. EirTrade Aviation is an end-of-life aviation company working on aeroplanes and beginning the construction of a hangar. This industry was very successful previously and can be again. It can ensure talent and skills can stay in the regions can, not just in construction but also in airline maintenance.

Other measures can be taken in respect of Ireland West Airport Knock, given the facility it is and the size of its runway. Creating an international cargo hubs is one example, and the space, runway and will to do so are there. If Government support is put in place to develop such a hub in the Covid recovery plan, the airport and management have consistently shown their ability to deliver on Government priorities and will do so on this occasion.

This would also be an opportunity to properly develop the western rail corridor, from Athenry to Claremorris and up to Sligo, by developing a rail connection to Ireland West Airport and connecting the western rail corridor to Shannon Airport. Linking our two airports on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Atlantic economic corridor by rail would enhance their attractiveness as destinations for inward and outward journeys and enhance the attractiveness of the western rail corridor project. Notwithstanding the flawed EY and JASPERS reviews, the project is still economically viable and can be the backbone for the regeneration of the western economy. It would also substantially reduce carbon. Linking the corridor to our airports to encourage people to use rail would be a way of doing that.

We can do so much more with the regional airport network, particularly the non-State regional airport network. We can use the innovation and ingenuity which its management have shown in response to tight resources to regrow the network. The priorities have been laid out in the aviation recovery plan.

I know this is difficult. It is intriguing to hear Deputies who were cheerleading and demanding the introduction of quarantine a few months ago now criticising quarantine for the impact it is having on our aviation sector. It was clear that it would have an impact. We are still in a challenging situation regarding the transmissibility of variants and we have to be realistic about that. If the regional airport sector was given a sense that there is a plan for the future or an interest in developing one and that the Government's ambition for the sector matched its own ambition, it would work with the Minister of State to develop and put flesh on that ambition, create jobs and enhance sustainability.

We will get through Covid. International travel will resume. We need to ensure we have the infrastructure in place in our regional airports, such as Ireland West Airport Knock, and staff supports continue. Aviation will take much longer to come out of Covid than other sectors. We need to make sure we have the route promotion and marketing supports the regional airports need to compete with the major State airports on this island and across the world to attract incoming airlines.

We have a fine track record in aircraft leasing. That continues with some of the major international players still operating here on the foundations established many years ago through Guinness Peat Aviation, GPA. We have a fine transport aviation sector in our airlines and regional airport network. We need to get them through this. I am convinced that if the Minister of State and Government show energy, commitment and investment, our regional airports, such as Ireland West Airport, will come through this crisis. No airport on this island has shown an ability to come through a challenge or crisis quite like Ireland West Airport has. It will come through this one. It needs the Government to come through with it and partner it. It needs the Government to have the same level of ambition for the airport that the community, management and staff have for it.

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