andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his attention has been drawn to a statement by the Irish Manager of Pan-American World Airways that something was wrong in the state of Shannon when goods such as textiles, radios and precision instruments were being sent by surface when, in other parts of the world, they went by air freight; if he will make a statement on the matter; and what action he proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surface Transport of Shannon Goods.
24.
I have seen the statement to which the Deputies refer. The firms established in the Shannon Industrial Estate operate on a commercial basis and they enjoy the same freedom of action in relation to transport as firms established elsewhere in the State. At present air freight costs for some commodities are substantially higher than for surface transport but it follows that as the disparity between transport costs becomes less, firms will avail to an increasing extent of air transport. The Shannon Free Airport Development Company is actively engaged both in promoting freight facilities at Shannon and endeavouring to secure the best possible air transport terms for goods produced at Shannon.
Is it not a fact that the future of Shannon Airport is to a great extent bound up with the expansion of the freight trade, and is it not a fact also that the Shannon Free Airport Development Company, into which millions of the taxpayers' money has been poured, was set up mainly to encourage the use of air transport for the carriage of freight? How does the Minister reconcile the present position, under which the majority of the companies operating there with State aid, if not under State control, are sending all their goods by land or other surface routes——
The Deputy knows nothing about it—that is how I reconcile the statement.
Is it not a fact that a number of items—textiles, radios and other precision instruments—are now going out by land and sea, in spite of the fact that the Minister is on record as telling this House that because of the compactness of these items, they could go more efficiently by air? How does the Minister reconcile the present situation?
For example, by saying that in the first quarter of this year, the volume of air freight from the industrial estate was 15 per cent greater than in the previous three months and in respect of one of the commodities mentioned by the Deputy in his question, there has recently been an increase of 103 per cent sent by air.
What was payable?
The Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Sixpenceworth.
Are we to take it——
I have called the Minister for Industry and Commerce.