asked the Minister for Communications the extent of the EEC assistance which has been granted in respect of the Connacht regional airport; if his Department have made a formal application for such aid for the development of airports in this country including the Connacht regional airport; and when the airport development committee can expect payment.
Written Answers. - Connacht Regional Airport.
365.
No EEC assistance has been granted to the Connacht Regional Airport. A formal application for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aid for the airport was submitted to the European Commission in July 1982 but no decision was taken by the Commission. Since that time it has been considered that the application would be unlikely to be successful if reactivated.
ERDF aid has been obtained for Sligo Airport under the Special Border Areas Programme. An application for ERDF assistance has also been made for the apron extension at Shannon and this has been accepted by the Commission. All moneys received from the European Regional Development Fund are paid directly to the Exchequer.