Vol. 235 No. 7
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the fact that 12,500 of the 17,000 passengers using the former Emerald Airline services from Eglinton were travelling to or from County Donegal, he will initiate a study of the possibility of regular air services to and from County Donegal; and if he still considers that as stated in the Dáil on 22nd November, 1967 Bord Fáilte will be prepared to give assistance to any new Donegal service likely to pay its way in the future.
9.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the present inadequate air and sea transport to Donegal, he will make a statement on his discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister for Commerce on the possibility of an airport being re-opened to serve counties Donegal, Tyrone and Derry; and if he will support local initiative in this matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. The matter of regular air services to and from County Donegal is one for commercial enterprise. I understand that since April this year Ulster Air Transport Ltd. are operating an air service daily, except Sunday, from Eglinton, near Derry, to Glasgow, providing 32-36 passenger seats. Over the past few years two companies were authorised to operate air services between Dublin and St. Angelo, Enniskillen, but these did not materialise.
In view of the considerable exchequer investment in our existing three airports, I would have to find convincing evidence of worthwhile results before considering capital investment in another large scale airport whether north or south. I am always prepared otherwise to support local effort and in the case of the provision of aerodrome facilities in County Donegal, to give technical advice. Subject to certain safeguards, some financial assistance could also be available.
As regards assistance from Bord Fáilte, I am informed that they will look sympathetically at any new service to Donegal likely to pay its way and be of benefit to tourism.
In view of the fact that the Minister for Agriculture was flown back to Dublin a fortnight ago by a firm which is anxious to set up something to solve the transport problem in Donegal, would the Minister be serious about this? Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the Minister to be serious about this and enter into discussions with the people who are operating the service from Ballykelly to Glasgow? Donegal is being isolated and, in my opinion, the Government think it is not in the 26 Counties at all or that it has disappeared.
The Deputy seems to misunderstand that we are dealing with questions.
I have asked the Minister will he become serious.
As a matter of fact, the Government are very serious about it, and now that the Minister for Agriculture has been mentioned, he has not been idle in this matter and I understand has already been in contact with the people concerned in this particular connection. This is a quite recent development and it is a matter that needs to be looked into very seriously.
While you are fiddling Rome burns. People in Donegal and Derry are losing money because of this and you did nothing in November when I asked you to do it to help in having this firm provide some air service to and from Scotland.
There was no by-election in County Donegal.
Question No. 10.
I take it the Parliamentary Secretary is going to be as inactive as his Minister and that he does not care two damns what is happening in Donegal?
Would Deputy Harte please behave himself?
