Mid-term Review of the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025

The primary aim of the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025 is to provide funding to Ireland’s smallest airports; that is, those that provide connectivity and handle fewer than 1 million annual passengers. This investment in our regional airports, which provides targeted funding towards safety and security related projects and activities, will ensure airports’ compliance with EU safety and security related obligations. Funding also supports projects with a sustainability focus, facilitating the sustainable growth of the sector. Also supported under the Programme are Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services between Donegal and Dublin.

In order to consider how the Programme is currently delivering on its objectives, primarily in the context of supporting balanced regional development, the Programme provides for a mid-term review to be complete by the end of 2023.

In preparation for the opening of a Public Consultation to inform this mid-term review, Minister Naughton recently welcomed views from interested parties on the range of issues that might be addressed in an Issues Paper in relation to, for example, how traffic can be boosted to and how better we can utilise better our regional airports. Such issues will then be considered for inclusion in an Issues Paper, which will be published as part of the Public Consultation process in 2023.

Full detail of the Press Release is available here

While views from interested parties were initially welcomed by 31st December 2021, this period has now been extended to 31st January 2023. The Department of Transport will accept views by this date via email to airportsdivision@transport.gov.ie

For further information on the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, please click here.