Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1586. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with a delegation from the City of Derry Airport to discuss plans to develop the capacity of the airport, develop new routes and increase passenger numbers, in view of the fact that 40% of the passengers who use the airport every year are from County Donegal. [1191/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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While I am of course happy to meet with a delegation from the City of Derry Airport, I think its only fair that I reiterate that there are no plans to provide Exchequer funding to that airport. The possibility of such support was raised by Derry Airport over the past year in the context of re-establishing the air route from Derry to Dublin, either by way of a new PSO or by a commercial carrier. I understand that the airport authorities in Derry are aware of the position in this regard. My Department currently administers our Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019 which provides targeted supports in the areas of safety and security to our four regional airports in Kerry, Donegal, Waterford and Ireland West Airport Knock. The  Exchequer funding available over the lifetime of this Programme will be fully required to provide these limited supports to the four airports, and to support air services on our two existing PSO routes to Donegal and Kerry.