Shannon Airport is set to receive over €7.1m in funding under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025.
Shannon will get the lion’s share of over €11m of Exchequer supports announced for Donegal, Kerry, Ireland West (Knock) and Shannon airports.
The funding is aimed at supporting vital safety and security operations at the airports to ensure they remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers confirmed that Shannon Airport has secured €7.172m in funding from a total allocation of €11.185m – an increase of 4.5% on last year.
The latest round of funding is in addition to the €16.63m in capital supports announced earlier this year. It will see a total of €28m in funding being dispersed to Irish regional airports this year, which Minister Chambers said demonstrated the Government’s continued commitment to the sector.
Commenting on the funding allocation, Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group said: “We warmly welcome Minister Chamber’s announcement of €7.1 million Government funding under the Regional Airports Programme. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting the region’s connectivity and the broader economic benefits this brings to the region. This funding supported some of the vital safety and security operational costs of running Shannon Airport during 2023.”
Commenting on the mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme, which is due for completion shortly Ms Considine said: “The inclusion of Shannon Airport in the Regional Airports Programme over the past few years has been invaluable in supporting our efforts to grow air connectivity, which is so vital for the business and leisure industries across the West of Ireland.
“We are proud of what we have been able to achieve so far. We know that if Shannon Airport were included permanently in the Regional Airports Programme, we can achieve even more for the people of our region while supporting the Government’s ambition to achieve balanced regional development.”
The mid-term review of the Regional Airports Programme, which is nearing completion, is looking at how the Programme is delivering on its objectives of supporting balanced regional development and how international connectivity and services, to and from the regions can be maintained and enhanced.
Clare Fianna Fáil TD and party spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe, has also welcomed the news.
“Balanced regional development is a key priority for Fianna Fáil in Government and regional airports are vital to that,” he said.
“Shannon airport was disproportionately hit during the pandemic with virtually no flights taking off or landing at the airport and many predicted that it could take up to five years for it to fully recover. Fortunately, it has exceeded all growth and recovery expectations and had a bumper year in 2023 with hopes that 2024 will be even better.
“This funding will further support the airport management team led by Mary Considine to meet its significant operational expenditure next year and continue to meet their climate action targets.
“My hope is that additional routes can be secured for Shannon in the new year. The funding committed by my party colleague and Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers today will put the airport management team in a strong position to have Shannon compete with other international airports,” Deputy Crowe added.