Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The decision of the DAA in May 2020 to embark on a voluntary severance scheme was against the backdrop at the time of a collapse in the aviation industry and the commercial reality that it was losing an enormous amount of money daily. It proposed a voluntary severance scheme and there was significant uptake of the scheme. It is also fair to say that the recovery in aviation has exceeded the expectations of the majority of commentators, and I believe it has exceeded the DAA's own expectations, to be frank. That is why in recent weeks, as manifested and crystallised at the weekend in such a terrible way, it simply did not have the level of staffing resources that it needed. It is a good thing that aviation has recovered much more quickly than was forecast, but it is important that the DAA upholds the integrity of the security arrangements at the airport to the highest possible standards. Its first priority is to ensure the safety of the passengers who are going through the airport and, indeed, those who work in the airport.

There has been significant interest in the recruitment campaign. I heard what the Deputy said about terms and conditions but more than 5,000 applications since the beginning of March indicates a high level of interest in the security roles that are available. It is important to point out that the terms and conditions of employment are negotiated and agreed on a collective basis between the DAA and the trade unions representing the staff there.

Regarding the Government's wider aviation policy, we have a policy that supports the regions. There is a regional airports programme. Just last month, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, announced capital funding not just for the airports that traditionally avail of the regional airports programme and of the public service obligation, PSO, such as Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West Airport Knock, but also included for the first time the State regional airports at Cork and Shannon in the regional airports programme. Both of them benefited from capital funding, which I believe was the correct decision. By virtue of the size of passenger numbers at those airports, they are now eligible for funding under the programme. It is anticipated there will also be a round of operational grant aid under the regional airports programme. Almost €22 million is available in operational support during this year to support measures such as air traffic control, fire services and security-related operations at airports. There will be invitations to apply for that operational aid and it will issue to eligible airports towards the latter half of the year.

The Government's strategy is to support regional airports, including the State regional airports, which all provide an excellent quality of service and provide competition for Dublin Airport, which is needed too.

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