Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of funding allocated to Kerry Airport in each of the years 2016 to date, in tabular form. [10432/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Exchequer supports totalling over €23 million were provided to Kerry Airport by my Department between 2016-2024. As requested by the Deputy, please see the table below, which provides a breakdown of this funding over this period.

TOTAL AVIATION SUPPORTS PROVIDED TO KERRY AIRPORT 2016-2024

As set out above the majority of funding has been provided under the Regional Airports Programme which supports Ireland’s smallest regional airports, those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million passengers (on average over the two preceding financial years).

Kerry Airport, along with Ireland West and Donegal airports are eligible for funding under this Programme in 2025. A total package of almost €17 million is available for allocation this year, ensuring Government sustains the substantial high level supports to regional airports in 2025.

I can assure the Deputy that this Government recognises the importance of our regional airports, like Kerry Airport, in supporting connectivity to the regions and enhancing balanced regional development. In line with this, the new Programme for Government commits to continuing to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be provided this year to local authorities for the repair of local and regional roads due to damage caused by recent heavy rainfall and storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10542/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. The Department of Transport also emphasises to local authorities the importance of setting aside a contingency fund to manage unforeseen events such as severe flooding.

On 14th February 2025 I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million for our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

In line with established practice, local authorities are advised by my Department that a contingency provision should be reserved from the overall resources available to each authority for regional and local roads so as to deal with damage caused by severe weather conditions.

In addition, local authorities may carry out repairs from the regional and local road grants available to them and from their own resources and in this context, it is open to each Council to determine and reprioritise its work programme following severe weather events.