Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1092: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has applied for approval from the European Commission for a scheme called The National Development Capital Grant Scheme for Regional Airports; if so, when they applied; what has been the response, and in particular, are there any difficulties from the perspective of category D airports in objective one regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28833/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On 30th June, 2006 my Department launched a new Capital Expenditure Grant Scheme for the six regional airports involving a budget of €65 million in respect of the period up to the end of 2010. The scheme was drawn up in the light of the EU Commission's legally-binding guidelines on funding of airports which were published in December 2005.

While informal discussions with the relevant Commission officials suggested that the scheme was fully in compliance with the guidelines, in the interest of legal certainty it was formally notified to the Commission on 7th June, 2006 for definitive approval. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Commission decided on 26th September to approve the scheme as submitted.

Meanwhile, all of the regional airports have submitted applications for funding under the new scheme. These will be assessed and prioritised by my Department with the assistance of expert advice and I expect to be in a position to announce the outcome in November.