Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
39. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the actions taken to support and strengthen the aviation sector since 27 June 2020; the priorities for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55616/23]
View answerI refer the deputy to the previous answer provided under PQ 62817/22 on 14 December 2022 which sets out actions taken from 2020 to 2022. By way of an update since this reply was given, please find further information below.
Throughout 2023 Government has continued to support the aviation sector as it continues its recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic which had a very significant adverse effect on the aviation sector.
That being said, the recovery which has taken place has been at a pace which had not been previously anticipated, it has also occurred at differing rates across all airports in the State. As such there was a need for my Department to engage and support the industry on a number of fronts to address this.
Through the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFaC), my Department convened a subgroup and held monthly meetings to discuss preparations at Irish Airports for Summer 2023. The group’s objective was to ensure staffing levels and other necessary preparatory work was in place prior to the start of the summer season and it enabled regular and structured engagement between the Department, airports, air carriers and other stakeholders on preparations.
Irish airports were able to report an overall satisfactory operational performance for Summer 2023 with minimal issues. This was against a backdrop of passenger volumes being at or above 2019 levels.
As a result of the suppressed passenger numbers in 2020 and 2021, both Cork and Shannon regional State Airports became eligible under the Regional Airports Programme in 2022 along with Donegal, Ireland West and Kerry airports. Over 2022 and 2023 an additional €63m has been allocated in support to regional airports. While Shannon Airport remained eligible in 2023, Cork Airport did not, given that passenger numbers exceeded eligibility criteria by the end of 2022. Notwithstanding this, €6m was made available in 2023 to support a security screening project at Cork Airport.
As part of the priorities identified for 2023, my Department is undertaking a Mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme. The purpose of the review is to consider how the Programme is currently delivering on its objectives, primarily in the context of how international connectivity and services, to and from the regions can be maintained and enhanced. An online Public Consultation, to inform this mid-term review, was held in June 2023. The findings of this public consultation are being considered as part of the mid-term review, which is due to be completed by the end of the year.
From the perspective of sustainability, my Department undertook engagement with stakeholders at domestic, EU and international level in relation to the efforts to decarbonise aviation. The past year saw the successful conclusion of negotiations on both aviation specific ‘Fit for 55’ proposals, the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation and ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. Ireland pushed for environmental ambition in negotiations on both these files.
The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation was concluded and published on 31 October 2023. The Regulation mandates aviation fuel suppliers to supply aviation fuel containing an increasing minimum level of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to be blended in the aviation fuel supplied at Union airports, commencing from 1 January 2025. It also requires aircraft operators to uplift 90% of their journey fuel requirements from Union airports which aims to restrict the environmentally inefficient practice of fuel tankering and Union airports must take all measures necessary to facilitate aircraft operators access aviation fuels containing the mandated shares of SAF.
The revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for aviation entered into force from 5 June 2023 and among other measures, it phases out free allowances to airlines by 2026 thus encouraging further emissions reductions. It also recognises the importance of SAF in achieving our climate goals by aiming to incentivise its uptake through the inclusion of up to 20 million free allowances which may be granted in relation to SAF uptake, for the period from 2024 to the end of 2030.
In recognition of the need to focus on increasing the sustainability of aviation, I tasked my officials to establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force. This Task Force will assist in the devising of a SAF policy roadmap which will help inform policy development and identify the actions necessary to ensure that Ireland can meet its regulatory obligations to decarbonise aviation. The Task Force will provide a forum for stakeholder engagement to evaluate the deployment of SAF within the Irish context.
Finally, to ensure that the structure of our regulation and oversight of aviation reflects international best practice, the Air Navigation and Transport Act 2022 was enacted on 7 December 2022. On the 1st May 2023 the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation were combined to form a single national aviation regulator, the IAA, which is responsible for aviation safety, security, economic and consumer interest regulation. In addition, a new commercial semi-state company, AirNav Ireland, was established to undertake the air navigation services functions of the IAA.
Heading into 2024, several priorities have been identified, some of which are a continuation of work which has commenced in 2023, these include:
• Develop a national Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy Roadmap, with continued chairing, engagement and input from the Sustainable Aviation Task Force into SAF policy development.
• Complete domestic measures for the implementation of ReFuel EU Aviation Regulation.
• Publish the outcomes of the mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme and commence the implementation of the recommendations and actions.
• Publish a Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Drones). The expectation is to launch a Public Consultation on the National Policy Framework in Q1 of 2024.
• Complete and publish a review of safety and technical standards oversight by the Irish Aviation Authority as set out in section 32 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 in 2024
• Undertake a review of the National Aviation Policy 2015 to support sustainable development of Ireland’s international connectivity and strategically important aviation sector.
• Continue to progress at EU level on the Single European Sky regulations.
The above, while not exhaustive, clearly shows Government's commitment to the aviation sector, which is a key enabler of our economy. It also serves to highlight that 2024 will be busy in an aviation context.
