Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As for our current policy, the levers I have are through the regional airports programme. Under that programme, which runs from 2021 to 2025, €11.6 million in capital and operational supports was provided in 2021 alone to eligible airports, that is, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry Airport and Donegal Airport. There is also support for the public service obligation, PSO, services between Donegal and Dublin. In addition, the Government has provided funding for Shannon and Cork airports, as the Deputy will know, with more than €28 million in capital and operational supports in 2021 under the Covid-19 regional State airports programme. It is important to state also that there will be widespread consultation on our new aviation policy.

The Deputy is a member of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. That committee will have a very important role to play in stakeholder engagement and as to what our new aviation policy will be like as we come out of the pandemic. The Deputy can be assured of my commitment to our regional airports, ensuring that they are supported and funded and that Ireland Inc. is connected from a regional point of view and an international point of view. This is a really good time, coming out of the pandemic, to look at our national aviation policy, and our regional connectivity will play a key part in that.

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