asked the Minister for Transport and Power what is the amount of revenue which his Department estimate will accrue to each of the three Irish airports from the newly-introduced passenger service charge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue from Airport Passenger Service Charge.
48.
Provision is being made in the Estimates for 1962/63 for total net receipts of £150,000 in the financial year beginning 1st April, 1962, from the three airports. This represents receipts for a period of 11 months. Exemptions and abatements will be made in respect of passengers in transit, passengers travelling on very short routes, children and aircraft crews. It is not possible, at present, to forecast the full effect of these variations at each airport. A rough estimate is that about £125,000 would be collected at Dublin, £20,000 at Shannon and £5,000 at Cork. The amount received, however, will be brought to account as an Appropriation-in-Aid of the airports generally.
If our traffic continues to increase at the 1958-1961 rate the contribution to airport revenues should reach the figure of £250,000 in a few years' time.
Would the Minister give the detail of the type of passenger who will maintain this new charge?
It would take quite a long time to read the entire description. The description of the charges, and the exceptions, will be published. The 7/6d. is basic. There are exceptions for children between two and 12 years of age; there will be lower fees for short distances, and so on.
I thought the Minister said there would be "no fees" for short distances.
No—lower fees for short distances.