Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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118. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if correspondence with Dublin Airport Authority since 1 January 2020 in relation to support measures to assist the company to cope with the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will be provided; the dates of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18002/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that officials in my Department are in ongoing discussions with daa in relation to support measures to assist the company cope with the long term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.  I also had the opportunity to discuss this issue with the Company CEO in recent weeks so I can assure the Deputy that I am fully aware of the challenges faced by daa at this time.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has put in place a broad range of supports to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, including the recently extended Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme which many companies in the aviation sector, including daa, are currently availing of. 

I can confirm that the daa wrote to my predecessor on 30 March and 27 April in relation to the unprecedented impact of Covid-19 on the aviation industry and on daa’s business in particular.  The correspondence sets out areas where Government might assist although you will appreciate that it is not possbile for the correspondence to be provided given that it contains commercially sensitive information which was provided in confidence.

As a commercial State Body, with responsibility to operate and manage Dublin and Cork Airports, daa is responding to the crisis and is implementing a Roadmap to Recovery.  My Department will continue its ongoing engagement with the Company as it is my intention that daa will be well positioned operationally to contribute to the post pandemic recovery.