Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not take that personally and I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing the matter.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This issue has been ongoing for a long time and I ask, once and for all, that proper grant aid be provided to Ireland West Airport at Knock. Under current state aid rules, only 75% may be provided by the Government. The airport has been in negotiations with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the past number of years, and it undertook work in a study group established jointly between the board at Knock and the Department as part of an in-depth review to consider the strategic options for the development of the airport. Basically, the airport wants to become self-financing and must do so by 2023. This study group did its work over three years ago. This was prompted after May 2012 when a package was announced for Shannon Airport to make it independent. That wrote off €100 million in debt and provided other benefits for Shannon in order for it to go from strength to strength.

Knock has been a success story against the odds. It is an airport owned by the people that needs proper support. It has been waiting too long for that. Even at this stage, the airport is not looking at expansion next year but basic maintenance. It needs a pavement overlay of the runway, which is 30 years old, and this will cost €7 million. If we assume the State will give some money, under state aid rules the airport must still come up with €2 million that it does not have.

I thank the seven local authorities in the west that have invested in Knock and paid over €3.2 million in July this year as part of taking a share in the airport. They will contribute approximately another €4 million. This money may only be used for marketing and development of the airport and not basic maintenance. There must be some sort of serious commitment shown to Knock.

Statistics released in July indicate there has been 0% employment growth in the west if we take into account jobs that are still being lost which offset those being created.According to the last census, three counties in the west, namely, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, are the only counties in the country that have lost population. We have no major interurban routes, motorways, high-speed trains or major deep water ports. Those more recent statistics will show that there is disadvantage here. Ireland West Airport Knock is key and strategic and something seriously needs to be done about supporting it once and for all. Time is ticking on the clock and, according to European rules, the airports have to become self-financing by 2025.

The regional airport programme was approved by the EU Commission for 2015-19. When the case was made by the Department to the Commission, why was a request to allow 90% funding not made to the Commission for Ireland West Airport Knock also? Why was a special case not made for that airport at the same time? Dialogue and discussions have been going on since Shannon Airport has been bailed out and funded handsomely. Conversations have been going on yet now we are going into the fourth year and still there is nothing substantial for Knock.

We sold the State's share in Aer Lingus for €335 million. Where is this money? Surely it is obvious to invest it in the likes of Ireland West Airport Knock, which is badly in need of the funding. I welcome the €1.3 million for safety and security measures in the airport, which was granted approximately two weeks ago by the Department. Obviously, however, this has nothing to do with expansion and merely concerns essential safety and security work. When will the Department and the Government be serious about funding Ireland West Airport Knock? It is critical for the west of Ireland. Serious effort needs to be shown right now.