Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
1024. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the barriers to the future growth of the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul industry here as identified by the National Civil Aviation Development Forum in 2016; his further plans to support the industry to grow into the future (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3171/20]
View answerUnder the National Aviation Policy a new collaborative industry/Government forum known as The National Civil Aviation Development Forum (NCADF) was established. Under this structure an MRO and Related Enterprises sub-group was established and the group developed a series of recommended actions aimed at growing MRO capabilities and capacity in Ireland.
On foot of the recommendations of the NCADF my Department commissioned an independent economic evaluation of the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul sector in Ireland, conducted by Indecon Consultants and published in May 2019 - see link to report: (https://assets.gov.ie/19143/0c86a298d6d74956a622146609a691d0.pdf).
The study was overseen by a steering group comprising officials of my Department, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI), Department of Education and Skills (DES), Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Irish Aviation Authority (representing the NCADF MRO working group).
The recommendations of the report relate to the enhancement of cost competitiveness, addressing skills shortages, marketing of Ireland as a location for MRO services, and infrastructure provision. It was also agreed that Enterprise Ireland and the IDA would jointly fund a report that would determine the need for additional hangarage in Ireland, indicative costs of hangarage and State aids in competing markets.
It is understood that work on this further study is underway and it is expected to be completed end of Q2 2020.
