Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
939. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed source of the €35 million identified by the report completed by the study group of Ireland West Airport Knock, which included representatives of his Department; and his views on the financing of the report's recommendations [1156/14]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the current Regional Airports Programme, which includes Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), ends in December this year. I have welcomed the recent Study Group Report. Given the current financial position of the regional airports and the contribution that they make to their regional and local economy, it is accepted that they should be given the opportunity beyond 2014 to grow to a viable, self-sustaining position. With that in mind and having considered the Study Group's Report, a decision has now been made to extend Exchequer support for regional airports beyond 2014. My Department will now develop a framework for approval by the EU Commission in respect of State support for regional airports, for implementation at the end of the current programme of support (i.e. from 2015).
Exchequer supports to the airport over the last decade have amounted to €13,819,676 in respect of CAPEX and €3,682,075 in respect of OPEX. While no decisions have been made in respect of the exact levels of future exchequer supports for IWAK or any other regional airports at this time, it is envisaged that future funding will be provided from a mix of local authority, local business and exchequer sources.
The policy on regional airports post-2014 is currently being developed in my Department and will reflect the outcomes of the IWAK Study Group report and will also have to comply with the revised EU Guidelines on State Aid once they are finalised. Regarding exchequer support, it is intended that a framework will be developed by my Department for approval by the EU Commission for implementation at the end of the current programme, for the four year period 2015-2018. That framework should provide a level of certainty around support over a multiannual period, where regional airports can provide a business plan leading to stand-alone commercial viability within a ten year period.
