€1.3m in grants for Ireland West Airport

GRANT aid of €1.3 million has been announced towards the operating costs of Ireland West Airport under the government-funded Regional Airports Programme.

The grants are targeted at vital safety and security operations such as air traffic control, fire services and security, ensuring airports can continue to remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas.

Welcoming the funding, Deputy Alan Dillon, Fine Gael spokesperson on tourism and sport, said: “The government fully recognises the devastating impact that the current crisis has had on our regional airports. This funding will go some way towards helping our regional airports remain financially sustainable as they plan for a time beyond the grip of Covid-19.”

Also welcoming the announcement, Deputy Michael Ring said: “Ireland West Airport is a vital piece of infrastructure in the west and I am delighted to see this being recognised by government.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a terrible impact on Ireland West Airport. This funding approval will hopefully help Ireland West Airport remain viable.”

This funding announcement comes weeks after Donegal, Kerry and Knock airports were approved to receive up to €6m in supplementary supports next year to make good the impacts of Covid in 2020. And almost €2.5 million in capital grants was allocated to these airports in July to support an airfield maintenance and upgrade project at Knock and the installation of Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) units at Kerry and Donegal.

Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, commenting on the development of a new Regional Airports Programme, said: “In keeping with this government’s priorities for regional development, I expect to publish a new Regional Airports Programme for 2021 – 2025 in the coming weeks. This will give funding certainty to the regional airports over a five-year timeframe, helping them to remain viable as they transition through the various phases of recovery from Covid.”