Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of the amount of funding that was provided to each airport for the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [51960/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy's question, I can advise of the following Exchequer supports provided by my Department to Irish airports during the period 2015-2021 and to date in 2022:

In relation to 2022 figures provided above, these amounts relate to the amounts of capital funding that I have allocated to the eligible airports under the Regional Airports Programme in 2022 to date. This funding is to be drawn down by airports by the end of the year.

A further €22 million in operational support is also available in 2022 under the Programme, to support air traffic control, fire services and security related non-economic operations at Shannon, Cork, Donegal, Ireland West and Kerry airports. My Department is currently assessing operational funding applications from these airports with a view to this funding being dispersed in early December.

Waterford Airport is not eligible for funding in 2022. While the airport had been eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme in the past, following a continued decline in demand for services over successive years from 2008, Waterford Airport became ineligible for funding when all remaining scheduled flights ceased at the airport in June 2016.

In the absence of scheduled passenger flights, Waterford Airport’s operations fail to meet the connectivity objective associated with Government policy on regional airports and the new Regional Airports Programme (2021-2025).