asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give particulars of the annual profit or loss on Dublin Airport and the manner and the extent to which Aer Rianta is compensated for managing the airport as his agent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Airport.
The loss incurred on the management of Dublin Airport up to 31st March, 1947, was £62,205. In the year to the 31st March, 1948, there was a profit on the management account of £10,788. There was a loss of £4,689 in the year to 31st March, 1949, and a loss of £10,593 in the year to 31st March, 1950. For the year ended 31st March, 1951, there was a profit of £3,884. The management expenses of Aer Rianta Tta. do not include anything in respect of depreciation or interest on capital nor do they include expenditure on the air traffic control, meteorological and radio services which services are operated by officers of my Department. Expenditure on air traffic control, meteorological and radio services in the year ended 31st March, 1951, amounted to £52,912.
No fee or compensation is paid to Aer Rianta for managing Dublin Airport but all the expenses of managing the airport are defrayed out of moneys collected on my behalf by Aer Rianta as airport managers. If the receipts are insufficient to meet all expenses the balance is met out of the Vote for Aviation and Meteorological Services. If the receipts exceed the expenses the balance is surrendered to the Exchequer.
May we take it then that the rest of the country is subsidising Dublin Airport?
I have given the Deputy the figures. In some years there were losses; in other years, gains.