Donegal Airport has been allocated a €276,871 grant for safety and security improvements.
The funding was announced by the Department of Transport today, with €2.5 million in Exchequer funding allocated to the airports of Donegal, Ireland West (Knock) and Kerry.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for Aviation, Hildegarde Naughton T.D. said: “Today’s announcement honours commitments in the Programme for Government to deliver funding that will support services and ensure safety at our regional airports’. The Programme for Government recognises the value of aviation to economic development, international connectivity and tourism.”
TD for Donegal Joe McHugh said: ” “Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn is of huge benefit to the north-west region, and the exceptional standards, quality and service carried out there by the team and management is to be commended, and is the reason why it is always rated so highly by travel experts and by the public.”
The Minister of State acknowledges the difficulties being faced by the aviation sector this year and said: “I am hopeful that this funding will help airports to deliver critical investment during this difficult period and to support them in planning for a time beyond Covid-19.
“Between now and 2027 – the end of the current National Development Plan – close to €60 million is earmarked for capital investment at regional airports. Such funding will help airports to meet costs of vital safety and security related infrastructure projects and equipment and to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance in these areas.”
Minister of State Naughton added: “I understand the pressures that airports are under as they deal with the protracted impacts of Covid-19 and as they plan for recovery into 2021. In an effort to establish certainty in a very challenging environment, it is my intention to examine supports for regional airports over the coming weeks and to finalise a new five-year Regional Airports Programme in the autumn. I hope that this will give airports the assurances they need on Exchequer funding supports over the period between now and end 2024.”
The regional airports also receive grant-aid for operational expenses on safety and security related activities.
