Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the application from the City of Derry Airport to have Government support for the Derry to Dublin airlink reinstated. [36935/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter.

As advised to the Deputy previously, it is in the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland and as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach that the Government of Ireland agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved connections as a priority’.

As you are aware my Department has progressed a desk-based review in this regard. Given my recent appointment, I have only recently received a copy of this review which I am considering.

The Deputy may be aware that I visited City of Derry Airport last week and had a constructive dialogue with the Board and management of the airport. As part of my consideration of the Review, I can assure the Deputy that I will take into account the Airport's views.