Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of investment provided for Ireland West Airport Knock since 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42774/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Ireland West Airport received almost €47m in Exchequer funding from my Department over the period 2011 to 2023.

Over €44m was allocated under the Regional Airports Programme. This Programme provides support towards safety and security related projects and activities at Ireland’s smallest regional airports, those that provide connectivity and handle fewer than one million passengers on average, over the two preceding financial years. Projects with a sustainability focus are also supported, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.

A further €2.8m was provided in 2021 an EU approved COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish airports. This funding compensated the airport for the damage caused to it by COVID-19.

Government is committed to continuing to support our regional airports. In relation to funding available under the Regional Airports Programme in 2024, a capital funding allocation of almost €3.67m was announced for Ireland West Airport in April. Operational funding will also be made available to regional airports later this year, from an overall budget of €4m. Further still, a budget of €17 million was recently announced as part of Budget 2025 for the continuation of supports under this Programme.

This level of funding has supported both connectivity to the West and balanced regional development. I was pleased to see passenger numbers were up 9% across our regional airports last year and 8% to date this year. Ireland West Airport alone is up 14% last year, having reached a record high of 820K passengers.

The Deputy may be aware that a mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme was undertaken by my Department in 2023. The review found that the Programme is delivering on its objectives and is in line with Ireland’s National Aviation Policy. The review acknowledges, however, that further consideration could be given to how the Programme could better support connectivity and regional development. In line with the recommendations made under the review, I was pleased to announce the high-level outcomes of the review on 16 July. In relation to Ireland West Airport, there are four key initiatives, which will be of particular interest to the airport, as follows:

• The scope of sustainability projects supported under the Regional Airports Programme has been expanded to include Solar PV farms.
• To continue to support airports, such as Ireland West, who forecast passenger growth beyond the one million passenger eligibility threshold under any future programme, consideration will be given to the extension of supports, on a temporary phased step-down basis, to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ in supports.
• Further still, a detailed analysis will be undertaken in relation to the broadening of the scope of Programme eligibility to allow for the inclusion of airports, with greater than one million passengers in the next Regional Airports Programme.
• A consultation process will be undertaken with relevant stakeholders to consider the potential for the development of a Start-up Aid Scheme for airlines to support strategic route development to and from the regions.