Vol. 537 No. 1
77 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the moneys the Government has received from the European Union to assist regional airports; if this has already been allocated; if she will give details of the amount allocated to each airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15379/01]
There are no EU funds for airport developments in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
However, an amount of £11 million, 1999 prices, Exchequer funds has been allocated over that period under the local infrastructure programme of the National Development Plan to assist infrastructural improvements and upgrades in facilities at the six regional airports. There has been no expenditure of those funds to date but my Department has invited each of the airport authorities concerned to submit their proposals for grant assistance to the Department by 31 May 2001.
In addition to the funds provided under the NDP, I have in recent years enhanced the programme of support for the marketing and promotional efforts of the regional airports. A sum of £1.5 million has been made available for this purpose in the current year and my Department is currently assessing the proposals from the airports for assistance from this fund.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have already allocated a sum of £200,000 from this marketing fund to Waterford Airport in recognition of the particular financial difficulties in which that airport found itself earlier this year. Of this, £150,000 has already been paid over to the airport authorities in Waterford.
