Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
201. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on talks with a company (details supplied) to provide additional financial supports; if State funding provided will be on the basis that strategic routes from Shannon Airport such as Heathrow, New York and Boston are protected; when these talks will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25324/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme. My Department has estimated that over €200 million in operational supports was received by Irish airlines and airports in 2020 under a number of these schemes.
€80 million in aviation specific supports were announced by the Government last November. This will go some way towards addressing the damage caused by COVID-19 and give airports the flexibility to roll out, in consultation with airlines, route incentives/charge rebates, when the time is right. My Department is currently assessing applications for this funding and hopes to be positioned to disburse compensation in the coming weeks.
Liquidity support was made available to Aer Lingus through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund, with €150 million provided in debt funding. This investment is designed to complement ongoing investment by Aer Lingus’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), in the airline.
It remains open to the airline to engage directly with the relevant agencies concerned with a view to drawing down additional support, with the amount of any such support sought being a commercial matter.
