Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014
231. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports that will be available for Ireland West Airport Knock as a consequence of budget 2015; if support will be made available from any other Government source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39622/14]
View answerThe Exchequer currently provides financial support under the Regional Airports Programme to four regional airports, Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), Kerry and Waterford. There are three schemes operated under this programme - Core Airport Management Operational Expenditure Subvention (OPEX) Scheme; Regional Airports Capital Expenditure Grant (CAPEX) Scheme and a Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services Scheme. The Government decided last December to continue supports to the four regional airports under those three Schemes. Budget 2015 maintains those supports.
Following the December Government Decision, my Department prepared a new Regional Airports Programme for the period 2015-2019, which also reflects the terms of the 2014 EU Guidelines on State Aid to airports and airlines, along with the recommendations of the IWAK Study Group. That draft Programme has been submitted to the EU Commission for its consideration and approval. Following its approval, my Department will move to identify the specific supports that will be available to each of the four regional airports, including IWAK, over the life of the Programme. The draft Programme envisages funding also being obtained by the airports to facilitate their future development from local authorities and local business interests.
