Exchequer support for the six regional airports in Donegal, Sligo, Knock, Galway, Kerry and Waterford falls under two categories. First, support for essential safety-related capital investment is available under the Border midlands and west and southern and eastern regional operational programmes of the national development plan. Grants are also available towards operational expenditure incurred by the airports on marketing, safety and security.
Financial compensation for air services operated under PSO contracts is paid directly by the Department to the contracted air operators. The airports do not receive grant aid under the PSO programme. Details of the PSO contracted subvention levels are as follows:
PSO contracted subvention
Route
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
|
’000
|
’000
|
’000
|
’000
|
’000
|
Kerry
|
956
|
3,441
|
4,479
|
4,497
|
4,916
|
Galway
|
1,364
|
3,999
|
4,600
|
5,105
|
5,634
|
Sligo
|
874
|
2,725
|
2,681
|
4,800
|
4,800
|
Donegal
|
960
|
1,802
|
2,083
|
*
|
*
|
Knock
|
—
|
1,960
|
2,388
|
3,191
|
3,403
|
Derry
|
—
|
2,306
|
2,306
|
2,306
|
2,583
|
Total
|
4,153
|
16,233
|
18,537
|
19,898
|
21,336
|
*Sligo and Donegal routes are operated under a combined contract for which the total contracted subvention is €4.8m
The total amount paid to each regional airport under capital and marketing, safety and security schemes, in each of the last five years is as follows:
NDP capital grant scheme
Airport
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
Donegal
|
0
|
0
|
252,779
|
717,595
|
0
|
Galway
|
258,646
|
287,807
|
728,065
|
944,712
|
1,276,421
|
Knock
|
0
|
302,610
|
0
|
2,030,996
|
0
|
Kerry
|
0
|
0
|
838,809
|
854,876
|
0
|
Sligo
|
0
|
181,759
|
470,060
|
238,694
|
9,441
|
Waterford
|
0
|
55,138
|
0
|
586,753
|
998,085
|
Total
|
258,656
|
827,314
|
2,289,714
|
5,373,626
|
2,283,947
|
Marketing, safety and security grant scheme
Airport
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
Donegal
|
126,973
|
253,947
|
230,000
|
280,000
|
255,000
|
Galway
|
158,717
|
253,947
|
230,000
|
230,000
|
280,000
|
Knock
|
723,750
|
444,408
|
400,000
|
400,000
|
400,000
|
Kerry
|
571,382
|
444,408
|
400,000
|
400,000
|
400,000
|
Sligo
|
126,973
|
253,947
|
230,000
|
280,000
|
255,000
|
Waterford
|
196,809
|
253,947
|
410,000
|
650,000
|
650,000
|
Total
|
1,904,604
|
1,904,607
|
1,900,000
|
2,240,000
|
2,240,000
|