Regional airports in Ireland allocated €3.85m in funding

By May 30, 2018 January 16th, 2020 News

Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross has announced that he is allocating €3.85 million in Exchequer grants under the department’s Regional Airports Programme to the regional airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock and Kerry.

The grants represent the 2018 allocation of funding for regional airports and will go towards capital investments in the areas of safety and security at the airports.

Ireland West Airport Knock will be allocated a grant of €2,300,781, while Kerry will receive €1,222,519 and Donegal will receive €326,700.

“Following on from the National Aviation Policy 2015, there is a continuing commitment by the Partnership Government in Project Ireland 2040 to support safety and security related projects at the smaller regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme. The grant allocations announced today underpin this commitment,” said Minister Shane Ross TD.

The department has engaged Ernst & Young to carry out a review of the future options for Waterford Airport, which serves the Southeast of Ireland, with the review expected to be completed in June.

Ireland West Airport welcomed the announcement of the funding, and in a statement said the funding is the first phase of a two-year programme of capital projects to be completed at the airport.

Arthur French, chairman, Ireland West Airport said: “We welcome today’s announcement of funding by the Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport, Shane Ross, TD. which will assist the airport in undertaking important safety and security related projects including phase one of the rehabilitation and complete overlay of the airport’s main runway, upgrading of Hold Baggage Screening equipment and critical air traffic control upgrades as well as enhancements to our Customs investigation/search facilities.

“We acknowledge the continued support from the Government and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Minister Ross, Minister Michael Ring, regional and local government representatives and our local authority partners and stakeholders in continuing the support for the Airport’s growth and development plans as part of the recently announced 10-year National Development Plan.”

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