Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I advise the Deputy that the City of Derry Airport sought to be included under the regional airports programme for the period from 2021 to 2025 and made a submission to a previous public consultation held by my Department in September 2019. As the Deputy has referenced, Derry airport asserts that its position is unique on the island of Ireland as it serves a large customer base on both sides of the Border. However, as advised to the airport at that time, the primary aim of the regional airports programme is to target funding, which is limited, at the smallest airports so that they can maintain compliance in the areas of safety and security in line with EU rules on state aid. Eligible airports facilitate connectivity to the regions, including to the north-west region via Donegal Airport, which is supported under the programme. While it is acknowledged that the City of Derry Airport has a role in helping to facilitate connectivity to the north-west region, extending the scope and cost of the programme to include the airport has not been an option in the context of the limited Exchequer funding previously available under the programme. Other Irish airports have also sought inclusion under the programme. Consideration of their inclusion has not been possible due to limited capacity for widening the field of supports.

The Government did previously provide Exchequer support, on a joint funding basis with the British Government, to the airport in 2005 to facilitate a capital project. A public service obligation, PSO, air service between Derry and Dublin was also previously supported. A desk-based review is currently under way.

It should be acknowledged that, while not eligible for funding from the Irish Exchequer, Derry airport, which is owned by Derry City and Strabane District Council, is in receipt of funding from that council and has also been in receipt of funding from the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Department for Transport. Derry airport has been informed of my Department's position, most recently last November when Department officials and the Minister of State who was then in the Department, Deputy Naughton, met a delegation including management of the airport. I will engage with and meet with airport representatives in the coming months. I was actually in Derry yesterday with the Deputy's colleague, Councillor Sandra Duffy, at the launch of the new multimodal hub, which will enhance rail and bus connectivity and which we have supported. We are keen to support transport in the region. I have just set out the historic position relating to the airport and why it was not possible to provide funding under the programme for the period from 2021 to 2025.

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