logo
Almost €8m allocated to Ireland West, Kerry and Donegal airports

Almost €8m allocated to Ireland West, Kerry and Donegal airports

RTÉ News​20-05-2025
Almost €8m in Exchequer funding has been allocated to three regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025.
The funding has been allocated to Ireland West (Knock), Kerry and Donegal airports.
Ireland West (Knock) is to be allocated €5.664m, Kerry will receive €1.813m and Donegal will get €0.346m for a total of €7.823m in funding.
The funds will contribute towards capital investment in the areas of safety and security at the three airports, while also supporting projects with a sustainability focus, assisting airports to meet their carbon reduction targets as well as building resilience against climate change.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien that among the 33 projects being supported this year are Solar PV projects which will see the expanded production of electricity from renewable sources at Donegal Airport and the installation of a solar PV farm at Ireland West Airport.
"Other significant investments include new safety and security upgrades at Kerry and Donegal airports as well as the continuation of the Aerodrome Fire Training Centre and Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade projects at Ireland West Airport," the Minister said.
Mr O'Brien said this level of targeted support is an indication of the importance Government attaches to the country's regional airports which facilitate connectivity.
"The targeted Exchequer funding provided by my Department to this sector has supported strong growth in passenger numbers, with overall passenger traffic across Irish regional airports last year 7% above 2023 levels. This positive trajectory has continued this year with 6% growth in passenger traffic across regional airports in the first quarter," he added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Michael O'Leary criticised for 'drive-by commentary' on Dublin metro
Michael O'Leary criticised for 'drive-by commentary' on Dublin metro

Irish Daily Mirror

time24 minutes ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Michael O'Leary criticised for 'drive-by commentary' on Dublin metro

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has been criticised for his "insulting" comments on a metro for Dublin, which he called a "waste" of taxpayer money. The 18.8km rail line, most of which will be underground, is to run from north of Swords to Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre. Various metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades but none have proceeded to build stage. On Tuesday, the Government announced that the MetroLink project would get a €2 billion boost in funding as part of the national development plan, in what Taoiseach Micheal Martin said was "a very definitive commitment to the metro". While Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe indicated the latest estimated cost for the MetroLink was €11 billion, Mr O'Leary claimed it would cost €20 billion, "so about a billion a kilometre". Micheal Martin and Paschal Donohoe (Image: PA Archive/PA Images) "Dublin Airport doesn't need it, Dublin Airport passengers won't use it – they're already well-served by buses," he told RTE Radio on Wednesday, while claiming that less than a third of the airport's passengers use buses. He said that while the tube in London runs from Heathrow and through "all of London", the Metro will only serve a section of Dublin city's residents – around 100,000 people, he claimed. "Here's the madness of this. This thing is going to start at Stephen's Green in the morning. If you want to get to our first wave of departures, which leave at about 6.30 in the morning, you need to be at the airport at 5.30am. "Are you seriously going to drive into the centre of Stephen's Green, where there's no car parking, to get this metro to get to Dublin Airport for 5.30 in the morning? No, you're not. "Let me give you the alternative scenario: for €100 million, this year we could buy 400 buses, and 400 buses would provide exactly the same capacity as this metro from Dublin Airport, in through Ballymun, in through Drumcondra, on bus lanes that already exist." He claimed the plan had not been properly costed and hit out at the Government's handling of public finances. "This Government wasted €330,000 on a bike shed, imagine what they do with an 18-kilometre underground train from an airport?" He also criticised comments by Mr Martin, who said the Irish capital will not be sustainable without a metro. "Does he not understand that the buses actually will all be electrified by the end of this decade, which will actually be greener than light rail?" Labour TD Duncan Smith said Mr O'Leary's criticisms of public infrastructure were as sure "as night follows day". A Ryanair plane comes in to land at Dublin Airport during Storm Isha (Image: Collins Photos) "Dubliners are stuck in daily gridlock. MetroLink is their best chance at affordable, reliable transport that serves communities, not corporate profits. "As a consistent advocate for MetroLink in Swords, I find it insulting to hear this kind of drive-by commentary from someone who clearly doesn't rely on public transport to get to work. "Dublin deserves better than a transport plan from a billionaire whose only experience with buses is when he is pretending to be one." When asked about his endorsement of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and junior minister Robert Troy during the general election campaign, Mr O'Leary claimed "they're not in government" and criticised Mr Martin again. "I endorsed Peter Burke, who actually topped the poll despite the criticism. I also endorsed Robert Troy – and they're not the government." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

Michael O'Leary criticised for ‘insulting' comments on Dublin metro
Michael O'Leary criticised for ‘insulting' comments on Dublin metro

Sunday World

time29 minutes ago

  • Sunday World

Michael O'Leary criticised for ‘insulting' comments on Dublin metro

Various metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades but none have proceeded to build stage Michael O'Leary said the plan had not been properly costed (Brian Lawless/PA) Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has been criticised for his "insulting" comments on a metro for Dublin, which he called a "waste" of taxpayer money. The 18.8km rail line, most of which will be underground, is to run from north of Swords to Charlemont in the south of Dublin city centre. Various metro projects for the capital have been proposed in recent decades but none have proceeded to build stage. On Tuesday, the Government announced that the MetroLink project would get a €2bn boost in funding as part of the national development plan, in what Taoiseach Micheal Martin said was "a very definitive commitment to the metro". While Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe indicated the latest estimated cost for the MetroLink was 11 billion euro, Mr O'Leary claimed it would cost 20 billion euro, "so about a billion a kilometre". "Dublin Airport doesn't need it, Dublin Airport passengers won't use it - they're already well-served by buses," he told RTÉ Radio on Wednesday, while claiming that less than a third of the airport's passengers use buses. He said that while the tube in London runs from Heathrow and through "all of London", the Metro will only serve a section of Dublin city's residents - around 100,000 people, he claimed. "Here's the madness of this. This thing is going to start at Stephen's Green in the morning. If you want to get to our first wave of departures, which leave at about 6.30 in the morning, you need to be at the airport at 5.30am. "Are you seriously going to drive into the centre of Stephen's Green, where there's no car parking, to get this metro to get to Dublin Airport for 5.30 in the morning? No, you're not. "Let me give you the alternative scenario: for €100m, this year we could buy 400 buses, and 400 buses would provide exactly the same capacity as this metro from Dublin Airport, in through Ballymun, in through Drumcondra, on bus lanes that already exist." He claimed the plan had not been properly costed and hit out at the Government's handling of public finances. "This Government wasted €330,000 on a bike shed, imagine what they do with an 18-kilometre underground train from an airport?" He also criticised comments by Mr Martin, who said the Irish capital will not be sustainable without a metro. "Does he not understand that the buses actually will all be electrified by the end of this decade, which will actually be greener than light rail?" Labour TD Duncan Smith said Mr O'Leary's criticisms of public infrastructure were as sure "as night follows day". "Dubliners are stuck in daily gridlock. MetroLink is their best chance at affordable, reliable transport that serves communities, not corporate profits. "As a consistent advocate for MetroLink in Swords, I find it insulting to hear this kind of drive-by commentary from someone who clearly doesn't rely on public transport to get to work. "Dublin deserves better than a transport plan from a billionaire whose only experience with buses is when he is pretending to be one." When asked about his endorsement of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and junior minister Robert Troy during the general election campaign, Mr O'Leary claimed "they're not in government" and criticised Mr Martin again. "I endorsed Peter Burke, who actually topped the poll despite the criticism. I also endorsed Robert Troy - and they're not the government." Michael O'Leary said the plan had not been properly costed (Brian Lawless/PA) News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd

Fair City's Lidl store removed from Google Maps after customer confusion
Fair City's Lidl store removed from Google Maps after customer confusion

Extra.ie​

timean hour ago

  • Extra.ie​

Fair City's Lidl store removed from Google Maps after customer confusion

A Lidl store in Dublin has been removed from Google Maps following after confusion surrounding its validity was revealed earlier in the week. On Monday, RTÉ's Economics & Public Affairs Editor David Murphy revealed that the Lidl on the set of Fair City had caused a stir from one woman looking to do her weekly shop. The confusion came from a realistic-looking Lidl store which now features in the fictional town of Carrigstown and is built on RTÉ's Donnybrook campus. A Lidl store in Dublin has been removed from Google Maps following after confusion surrounding its validity was revealed earlier in the week. Pic: RTÉ The store is not open to the public, and is off the back of a three-year product placement deal signed earlier in the year between the supermarket chain and RTÉ. RTÉ Commercial Director Gavin Deans previously confirmed the deal was the largest broadcast product placement agreement in Irish television history. The collaboration between RTÉ and Lidl includes realistic store features like a Deposit Return Machine, in-store backery, and even a modern staff welfare area. Construction of the fake shop began in Mark, and will see fictional store manager Renee introduced as part of a some upcoming plotlines within the show. Pic: RTE While the faux supermarket looks exactly like any other Lidl store, and even appeared on Google Maps, it is not operational with one woman sent on her way earlier in the week. David shared: 'Met a lady outside RTÉ trying to get in to do her shopping i the Lidl on the Fair City set this evening. It's listed on Google Maps. 'I gave her directions to Tesco.' As of Wednesday, the faux Lidl, which was on the app under Lidl Fait City, has been removed from Google Maps. Construction of the fake shop began in Mark, and will see fictional store manager Renee introduced as part of a some upcoming plotlines within the show. Characters in Fair City will interact with the store as part of their daily lives in Carrigstown – and, evidently, some viewers are already mistaking it for a place to pick up their weekly shop. have reached out to Google Ireland.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store