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Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton T.D., today announced the allocation of almost €16.4 million in Exchequer funding to regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. 

Almost €6.6 million has been allocated to our regional airports at Donegal, Ireland West (Knock) and Kerry and over €9.8 million has been allocated to our regional State airports at Shannon and Cork.

The allocations will contribute towards capital investment in the areas of safety and security at airports, whilst also supporting projects with a sustainability focus. Funding allocations are being provided as follows:

Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025

Capital Allocations 2022

Announcing these allocations, Minister of State Naughton said: ‘‘Government has maintained a strong commitment to the aviation sector during the Covid crisis and has allocated an unprecedented €161m in aviation specific supports, in 2021 alone, to our airports.  I am delighted today to be building on this commitment, as Irish aviation enters the recovery period.” 

Minister Naughton added “Today’s announcement represents Government’s commitment to continue to support Ireland’s regional airports to remain financially sustainable as they prepare for growth into the future. This capital funding will support a great number of safety and security related capital projects, ensuring that airports can continue to remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas.  I am pleased to announce also that, in line with the broadening of the scope of the Programme, a significant number of this year’s projects have a sustainability focus, facilitating the sustainable growth of the sector.”

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Notes to the Editor

1. The Regional Airports Programme takes account of existing policy objectives to help mitigate the impacts of aviation on the environment and to help facilitate the sustainable growth of the sector in line with Ireland’s Action Plan for Aviation Emissions Reduction and the Climate Action Plan 2021. A significant number of the projects approved today have a sustainability focus. Amongst these projects are proposals for solar PV farms, the replacement of airport vehicles with Electric Vehicles, the provision of airside and airport staff EV charging facilities and the replacement of airport lighting systems with LEDs and more energy efficient lighting infrastructure.  A significant electrical substation project being supported at Cork Airport will also have a great environmental impact. This project will see to completion the runway remediation project, which commenced in 2021 with the airport’s runway overlay project. 

2. Donegal, Knock and Kerry Airports were eligible under the Programme in 2021 and have remained eligible in 2022.  By virtue of their size and passenger numbers, Shannon and Cork regional State airports have never, before now, been eligible for funding under this Programme.  However, due to suppressed passenger numbers in 2020 and 2021 as a direct result of Covid, both airports have become eligible for funding under the Programme in 2022. 

3. Airports eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025 will also be eligible to apply for operational grant-aid, later this year. Almost €22 million in operational support is also available during 2022 to support air traffic control, fire services and security related operations at airports. As in previous years, invitations to apply for operational aid will issue to eligible airports towards the latter half of the year, with a view to applications being assessed and subsequent approved allocations being paid to airports during December.

4. Summary of Approved Project Types

Airfield Rehabilitation

Runway End Safety Area (RESA) Study

Flight Strip Survey

Airfield Ducting Survey

Airfield Windsocks Replacement

Passenger Airbridge Replacements 

Security Access Control Upgrades

Crash Siren Replacement and Relocation 

Instrument Flight Procedure Chart Updates

Vaisala Hardware and Associated UniATIS Upgrades

Fire Tenders Replacements

New Fire Training Centre Construction

Fire Station Extension 

New Fire Training Simulator

Security Fencing Replacements 

New Electrical Substation

Electrical Infrastructure, AGL and ATC CNS Systems Refurbishments and Upgrades

Lighting LED Upgrades

Airport Vehicle Replacements with Electric Vehicles

New Electric Vehicle Chargers 

Provision of Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Water Supply System Replacements & Repairs