Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of the €80 million announced to support the aviation sector; the funding allocated to each programme under this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28366/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, in recognition of the very difficult circumstances being faced by airports and taking account of the recommendations of the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery, the Government announced an €80 million funding package specifically for Irish aviation in 2021. This funding is detailed as follows:

Following the evaluation of projects under the Regional Airports Programme (RAP) and the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme (RSAP) 2021, I announced, on 19 April 2021, the allocation of over €11 million in capital funding to airports as follows:

The allocation of €6.3 million to Shannon Airport is in addition to €6.1 million in emergency funding already approved for a Hold Baggage Screening project at the airport.

In addition to the above allocations, an application for funding in respect of a runway overlay project at Cork Airport is currently being assessed. Given the costs involved, this project is subject to appraisal under the Public Spending Code. Pending a satisfactory evaluation, I expect a recommendation for funding to be submitted to me for consideration shortly.

Later in the year, my Department will also be inviting eligible airports to apply for operational supports under both of these programmes - the RAP and the RSAP - with a combined budget of c.€19 million.

In addition to programme funding, as outlined above, my Department has also developed a supplementary support scheme to help address liquidity issues at airports as a result of Covid-19.

This €26 million scheme, which was approved by the European Commission under State aid rules on 24 February, consists of a compensation measure for State airports - Dublin, Cork and Shannon - of approximately €20 million. This funding will provide airports with the flexibility to roll out route incentives/charge rebates, in consultation with airlines, with a view to supporting recovery and the growth of connectivity when conditions allow.

Under this Scheme, up to €6 million is also being made available to smaller airports that provide connectivity to the regions – Ireland West, Kerry and Donegal - in recognition of the impact of COVID on their business in 2020 and 2021.

My Department is currently in the process of assessing applications under this scheme and would hope to be in a position to disburse the majority of the compensation in the coming weeks.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the applications for funding or financial support made by airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic; the funding or financial support provided to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28367/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. These supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme. My Department has estimated that up to €300 million in operational supports will have been received by Irish airports and airlines under a number of these schemes by the end of June this year.

Liquidity support is also made available through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund, which has provided €150 million in lending to Aer Lingus.

It remains open to airlines to engage directly with the relevant agencies concerned with a view to drawing down supports, and the amount of any such funding sought would be a commercial matter for the airlines concerned.