Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the regional airports fund. This programme has been run by the Government for the past number of years. The current regional airports programme runs from 2021 and expires this year. The Government has reviewed it. The programme benefits airports which have fewer than 1 million passengers per annum. Shannon and Cork airports became beneficiaries during the Covid years when the numbers travelling through those airports dropped significantly. The ask of these airports, particularly Shannon Airport in my constituency, is that the Government raise the 1 million passenger cap. This is possible under state aid rules and increasing it would allow Shannon and Cork airports to have a regular and steady income stream each year. This would allow them to improve airport infrastructure.

Dublin Airport currently has a dominant position, accounting for 91% of all inbound and outbound air traffic. This means Cork, Shannon and Knock airports have to grapple and fight it out for the remaining 9%. If the Government is going to raise the airport passenger cap for Dublin, a little bit more could be done for the regional airports. I would love to see the regional airports fund cap raised. As I said, this is in the gift of the Government and it would hugely-----

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