Vol. 421 No. 9
33 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if, in view of the publication of the recent Aer Rianta annual report and accounts, she has any proposals to reduce airport charges to airlines; and if so, if she will give details of them.
I am conscious of the need to maintain airport charges at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports at the lowest possible levels in order to keep access transport costs to the minimum in the interests of tourism and other economic development. These charges have not in fact been increased since 1 April 1987 and I have no proposals to reduce them.
Aer Rianta must of course take cognisance of the cost of operating and maintaining the airports and also of its obligations to fund future capital developments from its own resources. The company have invested over £100 million in improving airport infrastructure and facilities over the last five years. Further major infrastructural investment is planned to bring the airports up to the capacity required to service demand into the next century.
Aer Rianta's profits have come from the prudent commercial management of their business activities. In particular, their revenue from retailing and other commercial activities has contributed to maintaining airport charges at their current level since April 1987.
