Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a little surprised that this report was given to the Department last July. I am also surprised that the Minister of State said it was confidential and commercially sensitive because I read about its contents in the Irish Examiner. The article stated, "A review of Shannon Airport has found that the group should continue to receive State funding, the Cabinet has heard." I am a Deputy for the mid-west. Shannon Airport is vital. This is very simple. Shannon Airport must be included in the regional airports programme. Clearly, this report stated that it needed funding for next year. That is what the media reports are telling us.

We know that because flight numbers are down. I want the message to go back to the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, loud and clear that we expect the regional airports programme to be extended to Shannon Airport on a permanent basis. We need route connectivity. We welcome the €4.6 million in funding announced yesterday included in the €10 million for route supports. We cannot exist on the western seaboard without support. The national aviation policy comes up for review very shortly and we will make recommendations in that area as a collective group. I want to hear that the Minister of State will take the message back to the relevant Ministers that the regional airport programme needs to be extended to Shannon Airport on a permanent footing.

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