Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
200. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the status of implementation of each recommendation made by the aviation task force in its final report on 10 July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36291/20]
View answer201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the status of the recommendation by the aviation task force to enable a liquidity initiative for the aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36292/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
The Aviation Recovery Task force submitted its final report in early July, in which it made twelve recommendations on how air travel could be reopened in a safe manner so that Ireland’s global connectivity could be recovered over the next number of years. The recommendations broadly ranged from measures to improve the safety of air travel, to rebuilding regional and international connectivity to making financial support measures available to the sector. The Task force’s final report can be viewed at www.gov.ie.
At this point, the majority of the Taskforce’s recommendations have been implemented. With the adoption of the EU’s traffic light system for international travel, together with the finalisation of Ireland’s National Protocol for Safe Air Travel, there is now a comprehensive set of rules for international air travel based on clear public health advice. This has been complimented by the HSE’s national test, track and trace system, and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ TravelWise app, which is currently being updated to reflect the adoption of the EU traffic-light system.
A number of financial supports have been made available to the aviation industry, including meeting the Taskforce’s recommendations for the extension of the wage subsidy scheme and the provision of liquidity supports. The wage subsidy scheme has now been extended to April of next year, as has the extension on the waiver of commercial rates; while a substantial €2bn in liquidity supports has been made available to all sectors, including the aviation sector, through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund.
On rebuilding regional and international connectivity, recently a further package of targeted funding for the sector was also announced, amounting to a total of €80m in further funding. This funding will be made available to Cork and Shannon airports, as well as to the smaller regional airports of Knock, Kerry and Donegal, and consists of both capital and operational funding. In addition to this, and subject to EU state aid approval, an airport charges rebate scheme will be rolled out across all of Ireland’s airports and will cover the period from January to March to help ensure continued connectivity on core routes throughout the Winter season.
