The Government policy on aviation is reflected in Ireland's Regional Airports Programme 2015–2019, which provides for the continuance of three Exchequer support schemes, namely, the OPEX and CAPEX schemes which deal with the operational and capital expenditure needs of airports and the PSO air services scheme. These apply, where appropriate, to the four regional airports, including Waterford Regional Airport. The programme limits future Exchequer support to safety and security-related infrastructural capital projects, similar to previous policy.
Such supports must comply with the 2014 EU guidelines on state aid to airports and airlines. The criteria for providing such financial support has changed since 2005 and has resulted in a reduction in the level of state aid that may be given to the airports under the 2015–2019 programme. However, I stress that there is provision under the guidelines, in exceptional circumstances, for airports to make submissions to the Commission for consideration on a case-by-case basis to seek approval to exceed the 75% maximum set out in those guidelines.
It will be up to Waterford Airport to provide a comprehensive business case in support of such a request.
Central to such supports will also be the need for regional and local business investment over the course of the programme. Ireland, in accordance with the requirement to do so under the 2014 guidelines, conveyed its unconditional acceptance to the guidelines in May of last year. Following a lengthy clarification process, the programme has recently been formally notified to the European Commission for approval. My Department will engage with the four airports to identify the specific level of Exchequer supports to be made available to each airport under the programme once approved.
