Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware that the City of Derry Airport serves not just Derry but the entire region of 500,000 people. It is the only region on the island that has no rail link, no motorway link and, now, no air link to our capital city, Dublin. In the City of Derry Airport, 40% of the passengers, approximately 140,000 to 150,000 per year, are from Donegal. Since 2010, the Irish Government has withdrawn funding for the Dublin to Derry link and I appeal to the Minister of State to reconsider the decision. Whether through a public service obligation or other means of funding, I ask the Minister of State to meet his responsibility, particularly to the 140,000 to 150,000 passengers from Donegal who use this vital regional airport.

If we are serious about the Wild Atlantic Way and tourism, for which the Minister of State is also responsible, if we are talking about getting tourists from North America and Europe into the north-west region, including Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, connectivity to Dublin is vital. Tourists are flying into Dublin. If they can get a connecting flight onwards to Derry, it is a major boost to the region. I ask the Minister of State and his senior colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, to step up to the plate and put financial support on the table for this vital regional airport. I will share time with my colleague, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile.