Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In recognition of the devastating effects of Covid-19, and to secure their ongoing viability, this Government has provided a total budget of €10 million in capital funding to Shannon and Cork airports in 2021.

The associated funding scheme will be designed in line with State aid rules, and will be fully compliant the EU's General Block Exemption Regulation. It is intended that investment will be targeted at safety and security related projects and aid intensity thresholds will be determined by a combination of national policy and State aid rules.

The airports will be invited to apply for funding under the Scheme and proposed projects will be examined by an assessment panel, which will include representatives from my Department, the Irish Aviation Authority and New ERA. Subject to my approval of the panel's recommendations, and subsequent allocation of the required funding to the airports, payments will be made during the course of the year - once the appropriate evidence of expenditure on the approved projects has been received by the Department.