Vol. 444 No. 2
2 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the level of State assistance allocated in 1994 to each regional and State airport; the viability of each airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I introduced a scheme of assistance for the marketing and promotion of the six privately owned regional airports in 1993, to be funded by the Exchequer at a cost of £1.5 million. A provision of £250,000 was made in the Department's Vote in 1994 in respect of the balance of expenditure on this scheme.
In addition, a provision of £1.25 million Exchequer funding has been made in 1994 for the introduction of an essential air services programme for the six regional airports, aimed at ensuring a minimum level of air services within Ireland to the parts of the country served by these airports. This programme has recently been approved by the European Commission and the Commission will shortly invite tenders from Community airlines for the operation of the services. No State assistance has been allocated to any of the State airports in 1994.
In relation to the viability of each airport, the Deputy will be aware from the Aer Rianta Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 1993, copies of which were laid before the House on 23 May 1994, that the viability of the State airport is not in question. The regional airports are private companies and their ultimate viability does not come within my remit.
Deputy Hogan cannot be here and he asked me to take these questions. In relation to the Minister's reply and his programme of support for regional airports, will Cork Airport qualify for this aid? As the Minister is aware, the airport is owned by Aer Rianta and there have been complaints from those in Cork Airport that they have not been treated fairly in conjunction with other regional airports. Given that the airport is viable and economic, will the Minister ensure there is a level playing pitch and that Cork is given a fair crack of the whip in regard to this support?
Cork is not a regional airport in the accepted sense of the term. Regional airports in Farranfore, Galway, Sligo and Carrickfinn are operated by private companies. A totally different situation pertains in Cork. One must examine the level of traffic, the total level of traffic of all those regional airports would not compare with Cork Airport which, in conjunction with Shannon and Dublin, is operated from the budgets of Aer Rianta. Central budget allocations are a matter for the Aer Rianta board, which is a commercial semi-State body, and operational matters of this kind are the responsibility of Aer Rianta management and board, not mine.
I am aware that representations were made and that there was some improvement in terms of allocating direct marketing funds to the people in Cork for the purpose of promoting Cork as part of the State airport regime. That was done at the behest of representations received. As far as I am concerned, therefore, there is no other State assistance for State airports and the issues raised by the Deputy, and which have been raised by other Deputies in the past, have been dealt with.
I am aware of the different status of Cork Airport and its scheduled services but I put it to the Minister that the people there continue to be dissatisfied. Will Carrickfinn Airport in County Donegal receive any assistance and are there proposals for scheduled air flights between that airport and Dublin? My colleague, Deputy McGinley, is particularly concerned about this airport and its future development. Will the Minister give a commitment that such a scheduled air service will be developed?
Carrickfinn is included under the auspices of the essential air services programme which I negotiated with the European Commission for the purpose of obtaining a subsidy to ensure we have an essential air service to our regional airports.
