Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
274. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide funding for Sligo Airport from the recently announced €45 million for regional airports, given that search and rescue for the north-west is operated from Sligo Airport. [17879/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to continuing to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030.
In delivering on this commitment, a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030 was published by my Department on 25 February. The new Programme supports Ireland’s smallest regional airports, those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than three million passengers per annum. Scheduled services must facilitate international connectivity, either directly or via another national hub airport such as Dublin.
In the absence of scheduled passenger services since 2011, Sligo Airport’s operations fail to meet the connectivity objective associated with Government policy on regional airports. There is no mechanism under State aid rules on funding regional airports which provides for the funding of general aviation services.
I recognise and acknowledge the valuable contribution that Sligo Airport makes in the provision of a Coast Guard SAR helicopter base as an integral element of Coast Guard Search and Rescue services, delivered under contract between my Department and Bristow Ireland Limited. Accordingly, Bristow Ireland Limited has responsibility for agreeing operational arrangements under a commercial contract with Sligo Airport. Sligo Airport is not eligible for Exchequer funding directly from my Department in respect of this important service.
