535. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment to establish a hub at Shannon Airport for the testing of new aviation technologies and the development of a National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62971/26]

I would like to thank the Deputy for their question on the Programme for Government (PfG) commitment to develop a National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap and support Shannon Airport as a hub for testing new aviation technologies.

I am pleased to confirm that my Department published Ireland’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy Roadmap in August 2025, fulfilling a clear commitment in the PfG. The Roadmap represents an important first step in developing Ireland’s national SAF policy, identifying a number of actions which will be built upon in future iterations, and setting a path for future SAF policy development.

To assist in the development of the Roadmap, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force was established in December 2023, bringing together relevant Government Departments and public bodies, airports, airlines, industry, academia, energy and fuel providers.

The Roadmap sets out the next steps to support the future development and uptake of SAF in Ireland and will inform ongoing policy development in this area.

In March 2026, the SAF Task Force was reconstituted as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Advisory Group, which will provide a forum for continued stakeholder engagement and advice as my Department progresses implementation of the Roadmap.

To note, the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) is based in the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area at Shannon Free Zone. The FMCI was established with the purpose of creating and delivering mobility testbed facilities for stimulating research, development and innovation in the area of Autonomous Connected Electric Shared Vehicles, including Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Ireland. FMCI’s Advanced Air Mobility services support testing and development across unmanned aerial systems, drones, and Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing or Conventional Take-Off and Landing aircraft. The FMCI is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland, and financial contributions from Local Authorities, semi-state agencies, and industry partners.

My Department will continue to work with relevant Government Departments, State bodies, industry and other stakeholders to support the sustainable development of aviation in Ireland.