Written answers

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Airport Policy

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with a company (details supplied) and all other employers at Cork Airport to ensure that no worker is laid off or disadvantaged in terms of pay and conditions whilst runway works are ongoing for a period of 10 weeks from now until November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44110/21]

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial supports he will put in place over the next two to three years to secure the recovery of Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44111/21]

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will engage with employers at Cork Airport to ensure that no worker is laid-off or disadvantaged in terms of pay and conditions whilst runway works are ongoing for a period of ten weeks from now until November 2021; and if aviation workers will be protected generally over the course of the recovery of the industry in the next two to three years. [43756/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 96 and 170 together.

As the Deputy is aware, Cork Airport has closed to undertake a major runway reconstruction for 10 weeks until 22 November, when it will reopen for the busy Christmas period.

Given the mix of business and operational demands at different stages of this project, Cork Airport has engaged extensively with employees during the planning process. Some employees will be required to continue working their full contracted hours and others will not. Cork Airport will strive to maintain current pay arrangements at 100% during the 10-week closure. However, where full contracted hours are not available and to enable the airport to maintain wages at 100%, this will be achieved through a combination of working hours and annual leave or time in lieu. In some cases, team members have been asked to support other areas of the business for the duration of the project.

Employment issues of other personnel employed through contracted services are matters between those personnel and their respective employers. While there are no specific financial supports being rolled out by my Department for companies/employees directly impacted by the closure of Cork Airport, I understand that the local Intreo Office is aware of the situation in respect of Cork Airport and will be able to offer practical, tailored services and supports for those affected by the closure.

In addition, more generally speaking, in response to the impacts of COVID-19, Government has put in place a number of economy wide financial supports.

In this regard, wage subsidies have served as the keystone of the Government’s provision of financial supports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This began with the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) and, to date, is continued by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which operates across all sectors of the economy.

I can assure the Deputy that Government is fully committed to protecting jobs for aviation workers and helping the sector get back on its feet. State-aid compliant Schemes, with a budget of €26m were developed by my Department, to help address liquidity issues at our State and Regional airports as a result of COVID-19 and Cork airport has received funding under one of these Schemes. This funding will provide Cork with the flexibility to roll out route incentives/charge rebates, in consultation with airlines, with a view to supporting recovery and growth of connectivity when the airport reopens in November. I understand that the daa has already developed major new airport charges discount schemes at Cork (and Dublin airports) to help kickstart air travel to and from Ireland.

The State aid schemes are part of an overall €80 million aviation-specific support package in 2021. To date in 2021 Cork Airport has been allocated €10m in Exchequer funding for their runway overlay project, under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021. Cork Airport is also eligible for a share (with Shannon Airport) of €15.6m in operational supports under this Programme and my Department has recently invited Cork to apply for funding under this Scheme which will be disbursed later this year. This operational funding is in addition to €1.4m allocated to Cork Airport under the Damages Measure of the aforementioned State aid scheme.

By virtue of its size and passenger numbers, Cork Airport has not previously been eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. However, in light of the impacts of Covid-19 resulting in suppressed passenger numbers, Cork airport (along with Shannon Airport) will be eligible for supports under the Programme in 2022. The level of funding that might be available under this Programme next year is currently being considered in the context of the Estimates process in relation to Budget 2022.

Government is willing to keep under review any additional supports that may be necessary. The Economic Recovery Plan published by Government on the 1 June, explicitly references this and recognises that additional supports may be required to assist the restoration of Ireland's air links, protect jobs in the sector, and support the aviation sector’s recovery and my officials are currently considering options in this regard.

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