asked the Minister for Transport and Power the steps, if any, his Department are taking with a view to improving terminal traffic at Shannon Airport in the light of the present decline in such traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Traffic.
13.
Terminal traffic at Shannon during the first nine months of this year was 5 per cent down on the corresponding period last year. The reduction is attributable to a variety of factors, including the increased surveillance by the US authorities on the operation of illegal affinity charter flights, the failure of the new travel group characters to gain popular acceptance by the American public and travel trade, the uncertainty created in the American market by currency changes particularly the much reduced exchange value of the US dollar in Europe, and the continuing coverage given to the Northern Ireland situation. The Deputy will appreciate that these factors are outside the control of my Department and this naturally affects the scope of the remedial measures that can be taken.
Notwithstanding these constraints, I am concerned that a concerted effort should be made to deal with the problem and I have had consultations in the matter with the agencies concerned and with all interested parties. A special group representative of the interests concerned have been set up by Aer Rianta to consider in-depth the causes of the present situation in all its aspects and to put forward specific proposals to counter the recent traffic trend. As part of their work, the group will consider whether there are any special inducements which can be offered in order to attract more traffic to Shannon. So as to ensure that no useful proposal is overlooked, all employees at Shannon, including the town and industrial estate, have been invited to put forward suggestions on ways and means to improve the situation and substantial cash awards are being offered to those who submit productive and practicable ideas.
In addition, Bord Fáilte, Aerlínte and SFADCO are intensifying their promotional efforts in North America in order to counter the ill-effects of publicity on the Northern Ireland situation and the reduced exchange value of the dollar in Europe and they are stepping up on their campaigns to secure renewed growth of tourist traffic from North America.