Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a review into the regional airports programme with respect to Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52882/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 28 together.

I thank the Deputies for their interest in the Regional Airports Programme 2021–2025, which calls for a mid-term review of the Programme to be completed this year.

This Programme provides support to Ireland’s smallest airports i.e., those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than 1 million annual passengers (on average over the two preceding financial years). In addition to targeting funding at safety and security related projects and activities, the Programme also supports projects with a sustainability focus, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience. Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services between Donegal and Dublin are also supported under this Programme.

The primary focus of the mid-term review is on the performance of the Programme since 2021 to date. However, in order to consider how services to and from the regions can be maintained and enhanced, the mid-term review is also exploring how international connectivity and balanced regional development is being supported.

Furthermore, given the calls from some for the inclusion of Shannon Airport under the Programme on a more permanent basis, consideration to expanding the scope of the Programme to include airports of up to 3 million passengers is also being considered. As the Deputies are aware, due to supressed passengers numbers in 2020 and 2021, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Shannon and Cork regional State airports had become eligible for funding under this Programme in 2022. While Shannon Airport remained eligible for supports this year, neither Shannon nor Cork airports will be eligible for supports under the Programme in 2024.

That said, Government provided significant targeted support for our State airports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and although the aviation sector as a whole is still in recovery our regional airports have rebounded strongly since the final travel restrictions were lifted in 2022.

Since 2020, Shannon Airport has received unprecedented Exchequer funding totally over €39m and I will be announcing the allocations for regional airports (including Shannon airport) in respect of 2023 shortly. This Exchequer support to Shannon Airport has supported a strong recovery in passenger traffic.

I recently visited Shannon Airport to launch the report on the economic impact of the Shannon Airport Group. This report confirms that the airport has had a very strong recovery from the pandemic and this performance has continued into 2023. Shannon Airport has provided increased connectivity with the most recent statistics from the end of October showing that passenger traffic is 13% above the same period in 2019.

I am delighted to see that the 2023/24 Winter Schedule announced from Shannon Airport has new and additional routes including a new service to Paris Charles de Gaulle with Aer Lingus which provides additional European hub connectivity from Shannon. We know that the quality and range of air services available from Shannon Airport is a key contributing factor in decisions by foreign companies to locate in the mid-west region. In this regard, the recent announcement of the restoration of Delta Air Lines daily seasonal service from Shannon to New York for 2024 is also welcome. The service will provide additional transatlantic connectivity which is important for business.

Notwithstanding this strong recovery of connectivity and passenger traffic at Shannon Airport, the matter of broadening the scope of the Regional Airports Programme to include Shannon Airport was raised as part of a Public Consultation process, which was held earlier this year. The findings of this public consultation are being considered as part of the mid-term review, which is currently being finalised by my Department with a view to it being complete later this year.