Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a spark plug that performs electric discharge for igniting a combustible air-fuel mixture inside a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine;
• a first ignition coil and a second ignition coil that include a primary coil and a secondary coil and apply a voltage to the spark plug by the secondary coil;
• a voltage applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to the primary coil included in the first ignition coil;
• a voltage boosting means for boosting the voltage supplied by the voltage applying means;
• a first switching element that conducts and interrupts a primary current flowing to the primary coil included in the first ignition coil;
• a second switching element that applies the voltage boosted by the voltage boosting means to the primary coil included in the second ignition coil;
• a discharge starting means for starting the electric discharge by the spark plug by controlling the first switching element;
• and
• a discharge maintaining means for applying the voltage boosted by the voltage boosting means by the second switching element so that electric discharge is maintained after the discharge starting means starts the electric discharge by the spark plug.