Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions that have been taken to support and strengthen the aviation sector since 27 June 2020; the priorities for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62817/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Since 27 June 2020, focus has been on supporting the aviation sector through what has been its greatest crisis to date. The COVID-19 Pandemic had a very significant adverse effect on aviation worldwide and the sector is still recovering from it impacts.

Government implemented a broad range of cross-economy supports that the aviation industry was able to avail of, the most important being the wage subsidy schemes to ensure as many people as possible were retained in employment. In 2020 and 2021 my department estimated that the value of these supports to Irish air carriers and airports was in the region of €360 million. The Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund also provided €390 million to aviation market actors.

Alleviation and indirect support for air carriers was also provided at EU level, firstly with the approval of the provision of State Aid and secondly through various measures adopted, such as exemptions from the airport slot usage obligations. My officials worked with colleagues in the EU to consider and adopt regulations relaxing the requisite rules in this area for a significant time, which gave air carriers breathing room to reconfigure their operations in the changed market yet providing a level of security for their future operations.

Throughout the pandemic there was regular engagement with industry through various fora. Through the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFaC), which includes representatives of the aviation industry, regulators, border control and public health authorities in Ireland, the department developed the National Air Travel Protocol to coordinate the public health safety measures that were put in place in air passenger transport during height of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was continually reviewed and evolved in response to any changes and followed national and international guidance.

From a wider perspective the national vaccination programme, passenger locator form, EU COVID Certificate, the air travel protocol, and other public health measures sought to balance the public health and safety obligations aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, as best as possible, while also enabling the sector to return to operations at the appropriate time.

The formal and informal structures established in my department ensured that the industry was kept informed on the development of these national and international measures.

In 2021 Government allocated €161 million in aviation specific supports to Irish airports to address the damage of COVID-19 while also putting them in funds to provide route and other incentives to stimulate the return of air services.

The Regional Airports Programme provided for capital and operational supports, and in 2022 this programme has included both Cork and Shannon Airports. This programme provided over €44 million in capital and operational supports to airports and PSO air services in 2022 alone.

While some air carriers were lost during the pandemic, we welcomed a new airline, Emerald Airlines, which commenced services in 2022 and was awarded the contract to operate the Dublin to Donegal PSO route.

There are several priorities heading into 2023, which include:

- A review of the National Aviation Policy,

- A mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme,

- Publishing a National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and

- Implementation of the recently enacted Air Navigation and Transport Act 2022.

At European and international level, my department continues to work in many important areas, for example, encouraging progress on the Single European Sky regulations and finalising the work on the various environmental proposals arising from the Fit for 55 package which will ensure our aviation sector works towards a green transition.

The EU Air Services Regulation is also due to reviewed in 2023. This is a significant regulation that underpins the operation of intra-community air services and its revision will determine the basis for the development of the air services market in the coming years.

The above, while not exhaustive, clearly shows our commitment to the aviation sector, which is a key enabler of our economy. It also serves to highlight that 2023 will be busy in an aviation context.