asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps he has taken to implement the proposal that passenger service charges be included in the price of air tickets to obviate the cost, inconvenience, and irritation caused to passengers by separately collecting the charges immediately prior to the point of embarkation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Airport Passenger Service Charges.
11.
A large proportion of air tickets for departures from Ireland are sold abroad and a ticket may cover departures from many airports with different levels of passenger service charge, not all of which can be foreseen when a ticket is purchased. The difficulties in including the passenger service charge in the price of the ticket are, therefore, a matter for settlement by international aviation bodies.
I have suggested to the International Civil Aviation Organisation that a study group be set up for the purpose of reaching an acceptable solution to the problem. I have agreed to be represented at any discussions in the matter and now await further developments at international level.
As stated in reply to a similar question by the Deputy on 12th May, 1964, I have taken steps to ensure that, where possible, the passenger service charge will be collected with the price of the air ticket.
Could the Minister give an indication of the system he has in mind when he says that, where possible, he is asking that the service charge be collected at the time of sale of ticket?
The air companies, for example, are willing to collect the passenger service charge in advance and put a coupon on the ticket saying that it has been paid. Certain travel agents do it. It requires the agreement of the travel agents and, above all, of all the air lines that they accept as final and conclusive the imposition of these special passenger service charges. It requires collaboration to operate a system in which by common consent travel agents will tend more and more to provide coupons for the payment of these passenger service charges. It is a matter of international organisation. The whole thing arose from the fact that countries, one by one, adopted these service charges, and we now have to face up to the fact that they are in operation over almost the whole of Europe.
12.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Aer Lingus are paid for acting as his agents in the collection of airport passenger service charges; if so, how much was the cost of collecting the charges in 1964-65; and the amount accuring to the Exchequer in the same year at each airport.
Aer Lingus are recouped the actual costs of acting as my agents in the collection of the airport passenger service charge. The costs of collection allowed to them in 1964-65 amounted to £16,800. The net amount accuring to the Exchequer for that year in respect of each airport was:—Dublin, £186,483; Shannon, £22,514; Cork, £18,622, a total of £227,619.