merrion street

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross T.D. announced €3.7 million in grant aid to regional airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock and Kerry.

This amount includes an additional €2.6 million that was secured during the course of 2018.

Minister Ross said: “This extra funding delivers on my commitment to provide a dependable level of support for regional airports year on year. In fact, the amount being announced today represents the highest level of funding since the Programme began in 2015”.

He continued: “The announcement is on top of €3.85 million in capital grants already allocated to these airports this year, bringing the total in grant funding under the Regional Airports Programme to €7.6 million”.

Minister Ross also announced his intention to provide grant aid of €375,000 to Waterford Airport by year end. Like a payment for the same amount in January this year, this payment is being made as an exceptional measure to continue to support the Coast Guard SAR service at the airport while work is underway regarding the future options for funding at the airport. No scheduled services have operated at Waterford since 2016 and the Minister engaged the services of Ernst & Young earlier this year to review future options, including a proposal from the airport to extend their runway. As this process is ongoing the additional funding granted today should secure the SAR service until a decision is taken in early 2019.

The Regional Airports Programme supports necessary safety and security investments and activities by these airports, enabling them to continue to contribute to enhanced regional connectivity for business and tourism. The important role played by these airports, in terms of their contribution to the local economy and in regional development more generally, is recognised in the National Aviation Policy and Project Ireland 2040. As a result, €42 million is being provided under the National Development Plan for the Regional Airports Programme in the period 2018 to 2022 with €10.4 million being provided in 2019 - an increase of €5.2m on last year. The Current allocation under the RAP for 2019 has also been increased by €2.5m to €11.3m.

Notes for Editors
The operational grants announced today to each of the airports are as follows: