Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the next round of funding under the Regional Airport Programme 2021-2025; the funding awarded to Ireland West Airport Knock annually since 2016; if additional Exchequer funding will be provided to support the aviation sector as it starts to rebound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12122/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Funding of €36m has been allocated by government in 2022 to support regional airports and PSO Air services through the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. In a substantial increase in funding available under this Programme, it will deliver €26m in current and €10m in capital funding to support regional airports of Ireland West, Donegal, Kerry, Shannon and Cork in 2022.

Funding under this Programme targets safety and security related operations at airports as well as projects which focus on reducing emissions and building climate resilience. Capital funding is allocated to eligible airports annually following an assessment of project proposals submitted by airports at the start of each year. Capital projects proposals from airports for 2022 are currently being evaluated by an assessment panel set up by my Department.I hope to be in a position to announce capital project allocations to these airports in the coming weeks.

Invitations for current funding will issue to airports, including Ireland West Airport, later in 2022, with funding allocations made by the end of the year.

In line with the Deputy’s request, Exchequer funding provided to Ireland West Airport under the Regional Airports Programme between 2016 and 2021 is set out as follows:

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our aviation sector.  My Government colleagues and I worked closely together to ensure that a suite of aviation specific supports were provided to the sector during 2021 to facilitate recovery and enable our airports to plan for a brighter future.  These aviation specific Exchequer supports exceeded €160 million in 2021, and as outlined above, funding will continue under the Regional Airports Programme into 2022.

This level of funding is a clear indication of the importance Government attaches to airports being well positioned for recovery and growth into the future.As was the case in 2021, Government will continue to keep aviation supports under review in 2022.