asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware that there is considerable public concern that the operation of air services between the principal Irish cities may, by reducing the number of passengers on rail services, produce operating losses on main-line rail services; and if in view of this and his statement that the Government would not subsidise operating losses on rail transport he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Effect of Air Services on Rail Transport.
27.
Mr. Ryan
I am not aware of any public concern about the matter referred to by the Deputy in his question in connection with the operation of air services between the principal Irish cities.
The air service between Dublin and Shannon has been in existence since 1946 and there has been no expression of public concern as to its impact on the economics of the rail services between Dublin and Limerick.
As regards the projected air services between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Belfast, experience elsewhere has shown that the use of such internal services is largely governed by considerations arising from fare differentials as between air and surface transport. The existence and value of time differentials and frequency of service between the two forms of transport also play an important part in determining the mode of travel most acceptable to travellers' personal requirements. Apart from selective factors such as these, experience shows generally that new air services generate a considerable amount of new traffic and that the proportion of traffic diverted from other forms of transport is usually not appreciable.
The internal air services to be operated between Dublin and Cork and Belfast will provide connections from Cork and Belfast through the Aer Lingus network to Britain, Europe and also to North America.