The Regional Airports Programme (RAP) 2026-2030 was published last week, which announced almost €45m for capital investment over the life of the Programme. Of this allocation, it has been indicated that €19m will be available in 2026 (of which €9m will be available for capital supports). The RAP is intended to support connectivity and regional development through regional airports, and the Programme provides critical funding to regional airports for safety and security related projects, development projects, and sustainability initiatives. This article considers the new Programme through a regional development lens.
The Western Region has three airports: Donegal Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock, and Shannon Airport, which operate at different scales and in different catchments. Each of these airports are vitally important for the regional economy and for providing regional connectivity. The WDC welcomes that all three airports in the Region have been included in the new RAP, and Ministers for Transport’s recognition of the importance and potential of each in their statement announcing the Programme.
The scope of the new RAP has been expanded to include airports with up to three million annual passengers for the first time, with grant scheme eligibility and aid intensity thresholds adjusted based on annual passenger traffic. The WDC has advocated for this expansion through our previous submissions to consultation on the RAP, and this development will allow for Shannon Airport to be included in the Programme, as it was from 2021-2023. Similarly, the extended Programme will allow capital and operational supports to be provided on a ‘step-down’ basis for Ireland West Airport Knock up to 1.5 million passengers, in recognition of the airport’s passenger traffic growth forecast. Previously, the RAP allowed for supports to be provided only to airports with 1 million passengers and under. This development recognises the important role of regional airports in providing connectivity and as an economic driver for the Western Region, whilst building flexibility and the potential for future growth into the Programme.
Updates to Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes noted in the new RAP should continue to support connectivity and balanced development for the west and north-west. The PSO route between Dublin and Donegal Airport is recognised as a critical enabler of economic activity and social inclusion, and productive engagement should underpin the continued delivery of these services. The new RAP confirms the re-introduction of a PSO route between Dublin and Derry City Airport could serve to improve connectivity to additional areas of the north-west which are not serviced by train or motorway networks. A €2m allocation to enable a new Dublin-Derry PSO air service was announced as part of Shared Island programme allocations last November, but it is currently not confirmed which scheme the route will primarily be funded through. It is important that the introduction of new routes is to the mutual benefit of areas across the region and enhances regional development overall.
Route development is another area which is important for enhancing connectivity to and from regional areas, and for supporting tourism, employment and enterprise in the west and north west. The development of a flexible new route support programme for Regional Airports has previously been identified as an important area of focus. At present, there is limited information regarding provision of supports to incentivise the creation of new routes under the new RAP. From a practical and administrative perspective, the need for streamlining funding cycles was raised as an area for review regarding the previous RAP. However, there is no clear indication in the published document that this process is set to change under the new Programme. Given the nature of capital investment timelines, provision for multi-year investment programmes is needed and formal multi-year funding approvals could be granted to allow for deviations as long as overall aid intensity of programs stay within limits. Further detail on both of these focuses would be well received, ahead of the Programme’s implementation from 2026.
The new RAP also makes continued reference to the importance of sustainability and resilience against the impacts of climate change, and the Programme sets out the objective of providing assistance for regional airports with meeting their carbon reduction targets under the Climate Action Plan, which is positive. The WDC has previously highlighted that investment should have regard for climate action commitments. While core infrastructure projects will likely be a focus, investment should also include those projects which support connectivity throughout the west and north west, such as enhanced bus transport services and greater provision of e-cars for hire.
The WDC welcomes the publication of the new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. Our policy team will continue to assess the role it plays in enhancing connectivity, supporting balanced regional development and maximising the capacity of our regional airports throughout the lifetime of the Programme.
