The Government has said it will provide over €23 million in funding to Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock, Kerry and Donegal airports.
As part of an €80m package of supports that was announced for Irish aviation last November, the Government gave a commitment to securing EU approval for a €26 million scheme to help compensate airports for the damage caused by Covid.
Of this amount, €20 million is being provided to State airports – Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
The remaining €6 million is being provided, in two phases, to the airports of Knock, Kerry and Donegal.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton said that Shannon and Cork airports are also eligible for funding under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme, with a total budget of over €32m in 2021.
"Earlier this week, as part of this Programme, I announced €10 million in Exchequer funding for a significant runway reconstruction project at Cork Airport," she said.
Minister Naughton said this funding has been allocated on a pro-rata basis with reference to passenger numbers in 2019.
Dublin airport will get almost €18 million euro, while Ireland West (Knock) gets the second largest amount of €1.9million, and Shannon airport is due to receive €920,000.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Ms Naughton said the difference in allocation of funding across Irish airports is due to "it only being part of the funding allocation."
"This important funding is being provided ahead of a return to international travel on 19 July," she said.
Ms Naughton said she hopes the funding will go some way towards aiding the recovery process in the aviation sector.
"As travel restrictions begin to lift, I am also hopeful that this funding may assist in restoring connectivity by affording our State airports greater flexibility in their capacity to offer route incentives, in consultation with airlines," she said.
In relation to the public service offering route between Kerry and Dublin, Minister Naughton said the Ryanair has committed to fulfil the remaining the seven month term, "at no cost to the State", she added.
"The market has now stepped in, which is really positive and has stated that it can resume the service at zero cost to the state."
She said the Donegal to Dublin route previously operated by Stobart Air will be fulfilled by Swedish company, Amapola.
Minister Naughton said the taxation of aviation fuel would be "considered" by Government.
"I think whatever we do here, we have to ensure that we support the aviation sector, we have to play our part in reducing emissions.
"It is something that we need to consider as a government as part of budgetary considerations."
