Clare Fianna Fáil TD and party spokesperson on Aviation has welcomed the allocation of almost €8 million in funding to support Ireland’s regional airports and has renewed calls for the expansion of the scheme to increase the eligibility to the programme.

According to Deputy Crowe: “The Regional Airports Funding 2021-2025 provides state funding for airports that have fewer than 1 million passengers per annum. The programme supports vital safety, security and sustainability operations and activities at airports such as Kerry, Ireland West and Donegal.

“During the international travel restrictions during the Covid years, Shannon Airport fell into this passenger bracket and received considerable state funding which allowed them to significantly enhance airside infrastructure and to invest in baggage screening facilities and features which have made the airport safer and more efficient for passengers.

“However, since the lifting of travel restrictions, Shannon Airport has boomed and there are now a considerable number of flights which brought 2.1 million passengers through the airport in 2024.

“Whilst it’s disappointing that Shannon Airport didn’t receive funding from the Government in today’s announcement, this was inevitable given the passenger numbers far exceed the threshold under the Regional Airports Programme.

“The Regional Airports Programme will end this year and a new Regional Airports Programme will be devised for 2026. I am hoping that the passenger threshold can be raised so that airports such as Shannon and Cork can also benefit from the programme.

“Last October, the Government allocated €1.94 million to Shannon Airport for sustainability projects and whilst this funding was very much welcome for Shannon, I think a lot more could be achieved vis-à-vis the Regional Airports Programme.”

The State is to end its contract to house Ukrainian war refugees in the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna this summer and the residents are to be relocated, Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has confirmed.

Additionally, Crowe confirmed that the 171 residents of the hotel are to be relocated on Friday 4^th July 2025 and will not be replaced with new tenants.

According to Deputy Crowe: “It has been confirmed to me that the State contract with the Hydro hotel in Lisdoonvarna will not be renewed. The contract will expire in early July and the Department of Justice have confirmed they have no intention to further extend it.

“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Hydro hotel has accommodated hundreds of Ukrainian families but now with the prospects of a peace deal in sight, the European Union overall, and indeed the Irish State, have to take a more measured approach to contract renewals. Equally, the crisis of accommodating people seeking international protection, which the Government faced over the past two years, has stabilised somewhat.

“I think it’s right that accommodation for Ukrainian war refugees and International Protection Applicants in Lisdoonvarna should be scaled back. It is a fact that Lisdoonvarna has played a role greater than any town in Ireland in terms of meeting the needs of these people. In the last four years, the population of Lisdoonvarna has increased four-fold and whilst at the beginning of the crisis there were many boots on the ground and stage agencies supporting the local community, unfortunately much of this help dwindled in the past two years and it is evident that the town is struggling.

“It’s time for other towns in the country to play their role and I have, on many occasions, told my colleagues in Government that while the people of Lisdoonvarna can be proud of the welcome they showed these people they have done their fair share.

“I am urging the Government to not renew any other contracts in Lisdoonvarna at this time. It is vital that this North Clare town, so iconic on the West of Ireland tourist trail, has a chance to recover and return to tourism and hotel accommodation.”