Paul Lawless: Will Knock Airport Be Penalised for Growth?
Paul Lawless asks the Tánaiste what steps the government will take to ensure Knock Airport is not penalised as passenger numbers near the 1 million threshold. He highlights the airport's 40-year history, its importance to Mayo and the West of Ireland, and concerns about the regional airport support scheme's tapering mechanism.
Paul Lawless put a direct question to the Tánaiste and Minister Dillan about funding: with Knock Airport set to exceed 1 million passengers, the regional airport support scheme will begin to taper payments. Lawless asks what measures will be taken to avoid penalising growth and to maintain investment in the West of Ireland.
The Tánaiste acknowledged Knock's critical role in national airport infrastructure and reiterated that growth at regional airports should not be seen as competing with Dublin Airport. He noted recent capital investment, saying "that's why we've invested over £20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the last few years" and expressed support for continued progress under the regional airport programme.
Lawless framed the exchange with a reminder of Knock Airport's origins, invoking Monsignor James Horan's vision and the airport's 40th anniversary. He stressed the airport's contribution to connectivity for Mayo and the West of Ireland and the ambitions of the airport management for further capital projects and passenger growth.
The discussion raises a policy dilemma: automatic tapering of regional funding once a passenger threshold is crossed could reduce support exactly when capacity and ambition are expanding. Lawless called on the government to clarify steps that will ensure continued investment in Knock and in regional airport infrastructure more broadly.
Key question
Paul Lawless put a direct question to the Tánaiste and Minister Dillan about funding: with Knock Airport set to exceed 1 million passengers, the regional airport support scheme will begin to taper payments. Lawless asks what measures will be taken to avoid penalising growth and to maintain investment in the West of Ireland.
Government response and investment
The Tánaiste acknowledged Knock's critical role in national airport infrastructure and reiterated that growth at regional airports should not be seen as competing with Dublin Airport. He noted recent capital investment, saying "that's why we've invested over £20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the last few years" and expressed support for continued progress under the regional airport programme.
Local history and significance
Lawless framed the exchange with a reminder of Knock Airport's origins, invoking Monsignor James Horan's vision and the airport's 40th anniversary. He stressed the airport's contribution to connectivity for Mayo and the West of Ireland and the ambitions of the airport management for further capital projects and passenger growth.
Implications for policy and next steps
The discussion raises a policy dilemma: automatic tapering of regional funding once a passenger threshold is crossed could reduce support exactly when capacity and ambition are expanding. Lawless called on the government to clarify steps that will ensure continued investment in Knock and in regional airport infrastructure more broadly.
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Transkrypcja
It's 40 years this year since Knock Airport opened in County Mayo and at the time it was thought it would be impossible to build an airport on a foggy, boggy hill but such was the determination and the vision of Monsignor James Horan and since then it has been incredibly successful and a really key piece of infrastructure for Mayo and indeed the West of Ireland. But it is at somewhat of a crossroads at the Minister, Tánaiste. It is due to exceed 1 million passengers having already handled 950,000 passengers last year. And under the regional airport support scheme, once an airport exceeds 1 million passengers it triggers a tapering off of funding. But this funding scheme is vitally important, it has been critically important for the airport in previous years and the management team are incredibly successful and they have many more ambitions in terms of capital infrastructure and to expand passenger numbers. So Tánaiste, my question is to you, what steps will you take to ensure Knock Airport is not penalised for growth? What steps are you going to ensure that we continue the investment in the West of Ireland? This airport is really important and I want to see it continue to be supported. Go raibh maith agat. Tánaiste. So do I and so does my colleague Minister Dillan sitting here beside me and I know so do you Deputy Lawless. So when I think of Knock Airport I always think of two things, one a visit I had there during the general election campaign, a very good visit with Alan and Deputy Endicenny, the former Taoiseach Endicenny and others. And I also think it was the place also where the late Pope visited a part of Ireland and I think he said may I offer a salamander, look the dream lives on, but these are the things that are in my mind. But I know this is an incredibly important part of our airport infrastructure in this country. We are an island nation, our airports play a massive role as too does Knock and we should never ever have a situation in this country where we think it's a choice between growing what happens at Dublin Airport or the regional airports. We will need that capacity right across the network. That's why we've invested over £20 million in capital funding in Knock Airport over the last few years. Under the regional airport programme I really believe we'll be able to make progress along the lines that you and Minister Dillan and others are discussing. We're fully supportive of the growth and development of Knock Airport.