Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Councillor Barry Sweeny from Ballyshannon, which is a great part of the country. I join my colleagues in celebrating the democracy that started from very small beginnings to become the democracy we have today. We have had enough of your past now give us our future. Those were very keen words when spoken but there is still much more to achieve.

I will also speak to the funding the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has announced, which totals more than €21 million. Along with my colleagues here from the west and the councillor in the Gallery, I know how crucial it is to have supports for our regional airports. We are seeing in excess of €21 million being allocated throughout the country. Ireland West Airport Knock, a hub for Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, is to receive €1.78 million. There is to be €6.83 million for the regional airport at Shannon and more than €600,000 for Donegal in addition to funding for the airports in Cork and Kerry. These airports are crucial because they support investment in the west. It is about jobs and bringing more people to live and work in our region. Those airports are lifelines for many communities, for towns and villages and for families, including families who are returning home this Christmas, perhaps for the first time in two or three years. They will be travelling into our great airports at Knock, Shannon and Donegal. We need further support for those airports. I look forward to further discussion and hope the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, may be able to come to speak before the House on these types of investments.