asked the Minister for Transport Government expenditure to date on Knock Airport by way of grant and loans; and if it is intended to commit further public moneys to the project before the airport opens.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Knock Airport.
1.
Total expenditure to date on the Connacht Regional Airport project amounts to £8.8 million, all of which has been provided by way of grants from the Exchequer. Additional Exchequer grants totalling £500,000 are committed in respect of expenditure on the project in the period up to 31 December next. A decision on the question of any further funding of the project by way of Exchequer grants is a matter for consideration by the Government in the context of the 1984 Estimates.
When this matter was raised early in the year the Minister said he was considering the question and would know "fairly soon" what the Government decision would be relating to further Exchequer funding for the airport which at that time, he said, required a further £4.5 million, bringing the total to £13.5 million. Has the Minister yet made any decision on the £4.5 million for completion of the airport by 1985, as was suggested at that time, or will he decide on the basis of the potential viability of the airport, which is the current criterion for funding for Clondalkin Paper Mill?
The cost of the finished airport is still £13.5 million. A decision on future expenditure on the airport will be taken by the Government during consideration of next year's Estimate. The Deputy will be aware that when I came to office 11 months ago certain contractural obligations had been entered into and I had no choice but to meet them.
In April 1983 the Minister stated that a decision would be made "shortly". Later, after questioning, he said: "I have not had an opportunity to make a decision on this project but I propose to do so in the near future". Has the Minister made any decision on the project?
I have not. When I further considered the matter after that reply, as work was going on under contractural commitments I decided it would be more appropriate to make a decision during discussions on the Estimates.
I am sure the Minister has had ample time to discuss the Estimates. Has he decided finally to end this nonsense of spending more millions of pounds on Knock Airport? Does he not consider that it is a highly dangerous project at present — that we might be invaded because of the possibility of missiles or something being sited there?
The Deputy will have to be a little patient. Decisions on matters like this will be finalised in the context of the Estimates of which the Government will conclude consideration shortly.