'More needs to be done to support Shannon Airport'- Dáil Éireann hears

Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has made a request to Government, asking it to consider lifting the Dublin Airport passenger cap in order to benefit Shannon Airport as well as others. 

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Crowe said: "With the population continuing to grow and the pressure on all forms of public transport increasing, it should be no surprise to anyone that the 2007 planning condition imposed on the Dublin Airport Authority that it could only cater for 32 million passengers per annum would be exceeded at some point."

He went on to note that during last November's general election campaign, all leaders, including those now in Government and in opposition, pledged they would lift the Dublin Airport passenger cap if they were in power.

He said it was "inevitable" that at some point in Government this legislation to this would be introduced. Mr Crowe stated that the passenger cap has placed "difficulty" on the capital's airport, saying there is a need to deal with the "here-and-now problem" that the airport faces, along with planning for the future.

"As an island nation, we need to be internationally connected at all times," said Deputy Crowe.

READ MORE: Aer Lingus launches biggest ever Shannon Airport transatlantic schedule for summer 2026

Whilst speaking on this, he confessed that he does feel some concern for Ireland's other airports, including Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and Ireland West Airport, Knock. This is because Dublin holds a dominant position in Irish aviation, accounting for 84% of all inbound and outbound flights.

The Fianna Fáil TD said: "The proposed lifting of the cap at Dublin Airport presents the opportunity to make some positive changes insofar as those airports are concerned. Shannon Airport, in my own constituency of Clare, needs European hub connectivity. To illustrate this problem, there are nine direct flights each day from Dublin Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, but not a single one from Shannon Airport. This is one example alone. There are many more I can think of."

He claimed that this illustrates how balanced regional development "simply does not exist" in Irish aviation at this time. 

"It is high time the national policy on aviation along with the Irish Aviation Authority introduce a new regional development clause when applications are submitted by airlines to operate new routes."

Mr Crowe brought forward the idea that there should be an additional clause to look at the other airports in Ireland to "sweat out" those other national assets. 

While he is aware most tourists want to land in the capital city, the government cannot neglect Ireland's other airports.

Endorsing Mr Crowe's recommendation was none other than Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who agreed: "There is no question that the cap has to be lifted," he stated.

When questioned on climate concerns, the Taoiseach noted: "Very often airlines dictate the pace in respect of where they want to fly into and out of. Capital cities all over the world tend to draw the highest volume of traffic and interest and that has implications for regional locations."

There was a mid-term review of the current programme for regional airports with high-level outcomes announced in July last year and a public consultation was then undertaken. It is said that Shannon Airport benefited to some degree from inclusion in that, along with Cork Airport, Ireland West Airport in Knock, Kerry Airport and Donegal Airport, where they continue to be eligible for funding. 

"The potential for the development of an Exchequer funded programme or a commitment to broadening the scope of that programme to airports that handle more than 1 million passengers, which would apply to Shannon Airport, is under consideration by the Minister and the Government. That is an outcome of the review and it is being progressed as a matter of priority," he said. 

The development of an Exchequer funded start-up aid scheme for airlines to support strategic route development to and from the regions is also being considered, it was confirmed. 

In terms of the 2015 national aviation policy, the Department of Transport has commenced preparatory work on revising that policy and the Minister hopes to publish it in 2026. It is said that this will update existing policy in response to developments in the aviation sector and will include a focus on maximising the use of regional airports in line with commitments made in the programme for Government. 

Notably, Taoiseach Michaél Martin said, "Shannon Airport in particular is a significant asset."

In response, Deputy Crowe recommended that money dividend to the State by the Dublin Airport Authority, which was €99 million in 2024, be disbursed across Ireland's other airports.

While noting that Mr Crowe's point was "well made," the Taoiseach stated: "I will revert to the Deputy in respect of the other issue he raised about the aircraft maintenance proposal. It is not in the gift of the State."