The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE Government has announced the allocation of another €10.1 million in funding for Shannon Airport.
Shannon is to get €5.527 million under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programm 2021, while it is also to receive €4.574 million under the Covid-19 Supplementary Support Scheme.
According to figures from the Department of Transport, in 2021 Shannon will receive a total of€23.6 million this year, as it continues to grapple with massive drops in traffic due to the pandemic.
They also show that €160 million will be the combined sum given by the State to airports this year, with the majority, €97.2 million, going to Dublin. Cork will get €25.1 million while Shannon receives €23.6 million, with Knock, Kerry and Donegal getting much smaller sums.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said, “Building on my announcement of allocations totalling €23m under the Supplementary Supports Scheme to Irish Airports in July, I am delighted to announce a further considerable allocation of almost €93 million today to Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock and Kerry airports. This funding will continue to compensate airports for the damage caused as a result of Covid and I am pleased to say that our smaller regional airports of Donegal, Knock and Kerry are being fully compensated for the damage caused by Covid to the maximum amounts allowable under this Scheme. This funding also reinforces the Government’s commitment to the Aviation sector, by providing State airports with flexibility to roll out discounts on airport charges, with a view to supporting the recovery and restoration of strategic connectivity, including on long-haul routes, for Ireland.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
