Vol. 450 No. 3
159 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will sanction the tender of Aer Lingus to supply a twice daily service from Dublin to Sligo Airport; and the reason for the delay in sanctioning the tender. [5192/95]
Tenders for the operation of services under the essential air services programme were advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 25 June, 1994. The tenders received for the Dublin/Sligo/Dublin route were not deemed satisfactory. Under the highly confidential procedures applying to the tendering process, I am not in a position to discuss specific details relating to tenders.
I can inform the Deputy, however, that following agreement with the EU Commission, the Dublin/Sligo/Dublin route was readvertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 27 January, 1995. A decision on the award of a contract to operate the route will be taken following detailed examination of the tenders received.
