Louise Haigh comments on the announcement of funding for ferry operators between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

“Labour backed calls for support and this limited announcement is welcome, but the UK Government must go much further to safeguard regional connectivity.

“The next step has to be support for hauliers, who keep vital supplies moving and who are under serious pressure on Irish Sea routes.

“And it is over a fortnight since NI airports warned support was needed ‘within days’; every day of delay puts them under further strain. The UK Government must act to ensure this public health crisis does not become a long-term crisis for regional connectivity.”

Ends

Notes to editors

· The financial support for ferry operators will now be made available to Stena Line, P&O and Seatruck to maintain five key routes; Warrenpoint to Heysham; Belfast to Liverpool, Cairnryan and Heysham; and Larne to Cairnryan.
· This support is for a period of two months and is estimated to cost between £10.6 and £16.6 million. The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to cover 40% of these costs.
· The scheme is designed to provide a shortfall cost subsidy to ensure routes break even and may be tapered over the life of the scheme as operators find alternative market-based solutions and adjust to circumstances. The funding range is quite broad at this stage given that it is a shortfall subsidy scheme it is not possible to be more specific at this time.