Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount granted or loaned to Irish airlines and aviation companies during 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42069/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The aviation sector is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with all airlines seeing a severe depletion of revenue and facing various degrees of financial challenge. The knock-on implications for our airports have also been severe.

Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including the aviation sector. These supports include the wage subsidy scheme, waiving 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, by the end of June this year, our airlines and airports would have received at least €300 million through several of these supports.

Liquidity funding is also available through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund for medium and large enterprises, with Aer Lingus having received a €150 million debt facility and daa having received a €40 million participation in their bond issuance.

In November 2020, Government agreed a revised funding package of €80 million specifically for Irish aviation for 2021. €21 million is being provided under the Regional Airports Programme (2021-2025). This gives funding certainty to Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West Airport Knock and supports domestic PSO routes. €32 million is being provided to Cork and Shannon Airports through a new one-year COVID-19 Regional State Airports Programme. €26 million is being provided, through a European Commission approved Irish State Aid scheme, to compensate airport operators for the losses caused by COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by Ireland to limit its spread. The scheme will augment the supports already in place and help the industry to maintain connectivity and recover from the impact of COVID-19.

On 1 June 2021, Government launched its Economic Recovery Plan 2021, with the goal of achieving rapid job creation and economic growth after the pandemic. This plan sets out new measures for businesses and affected sectors as the economy reopens, and details for existing emergency pandemic financial supports including the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), giving certainty to employers, workers, and for those who need it most. Importantly, this plan also recognised that additional support may be required for the recovery of the aviation sector.