Bertie Ahern
Question:23 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to promote Connaught Regional Airport in the interest of western development. [2631/95]
Written Answers - Connaught Regional Airport.
The broad answer to the question is: We recogise the airport's role in terms of western development; we are putting in place a policy which guarantees a minimum level of service to the region served by airports like Connaught Regional Airport; policy is directed towards increasing traffic at Connaught and other regional airports and we have appointed a Minister of State who will have special responsibility for co-ordinating this Government's commitment to the west and who will keep under close examination the needs of Connaught Regional Airport.
That gives you some indication of the importance we place on Connaught Regional Airport and other such airports.
However, there are facts we must take on board and the Deputy, so recently in government, will be well aware of the realities.
I would like to remind the Deputy and in the process draw the attention of the House to the fact that Connaught Regional Airport is privately-owned and managed. The promotion of the airport is a matter for the airport company — that is the fact of the matter.
Nonetheless, short term marketing assistance was provided for the six small privately-owned regional airports by the Exchequer on a once-off basis in 1993. This was because of their precarious financial position, resulting from a sharp downturn in traffic — a drop of over 51 per cent between 1990 and 1993 — and the inability of the airport to devote resources to marketing and promotion. Connaught Airport received marketing assistance of £270,200 under this scheme. Traffic improved significantly in 1994 as a result.
That is a start and we will continue to maintain close contact with Connaught Regional Airport and to offer any assistance we can to ensure positive growth is maintained.
We will do all in our power to help draw traffic into and out of Connaught Regional Airport. We will not be in a position to make funds available to the airport for development or promotion. No provision for such funding was made in the National Development Plan 1994-1999.