James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the sector specific supports for the aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32547/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy has previously been advised, in recognition of the very difficult circumstances facing the aviation sector, the Government announced a funding package for Irish aviation last November.

The following outlines the total package of sector-specific supports available to aviation in 2021:

Following the evaluation of projects submitted for capital funding under both the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025 and the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021, I was pleased to announce, on 19th April 2021, the allocation of over €11 million in Exchequer funding to regional airports as follows:

The allocation to Shannon Airport, which will support the delivery of a broad range of projects at the airport, is in addition to €6.1 million already approved for a significant Hold Baggage Screening project for the airport in 2020.

Furthermore, an application for funding in respect of a runway overlay project at Cork Airport is currently being assessed. Pending a satisfactory evaluation, I hope to be in a position to formally approve funding, in the region of €10 million, for this project in the coming weeks.

In addition to the above capital funding, airports will also be invited to apply for operational supports, under these Programmes, later in the year.

In relation to funding under the Covid-19 Supplementary Support Scheme, applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is anticipated that funding will be dispersed in the coming weeks.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the Government has made significant funding available to the Irish aviation industry through a range of business supports. The bulk of the support to airlines is through the TWSS/EWSS wage subsidy schemes which were specifically designed to maintain the link between employers and employees. It is estimated that by end-June 2021, the sector will have received approximately €300 million in such supports. In addition, liquidity support has also been made available to the aviation industry through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation Fund. Aer Lingus has already secured a €150m loan under this fund.