Three regional airports are set to receive €3.4 million in Government grant aid.
Kerry, Ireland West (Knock) and Donegal airports will benefit from the funding for vital safety and security services.
The money will allow for improvements in air traffic control, fire services and security, and will ensure the facilities can remain compliant with regulations.
Kerry airport will get the largest share (€1.5 million), with Knock set to receive €1.35 million. Donegal airport will receive €580,000 of grant aid.
Minister for International Transport Hildegarde Naughton said the funding should help support the airports through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I fully recognise the devastating impact that the current crisis has had on our regional airports,” she said.
“In addition to today’s funding, I also announced further supports for these airports on November 10 when Government agreed to a revised supports package of €80m for Irish aviation.
“As part of that announcement, in order to safeguard the viability of these airports, Donegal, Kerry and Knock will be eligible to receive up to €6m in supplementary supports next year to make good the impacts of Covid in 2020.”
Capital grants
This latest announcement is in addition to almost €2.5 million in capital grants allocated to the airports in July.
Ireland West Airport welcomed the €1,35m announcement saying they were grateful to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the “continued support”.
In a statement, chairman Arthur French said: “This funding will serve to go part of the way to subventing the close to €4m losses the airport is forecasting this year as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The airport went from a record high of 807,000 passengers in 2019 to an estimated 145,000 passengers in 2020 – an 82 per cent decline and a passenger level last experienced in 1995.
