Vol. 458 No. 5
201 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has satisfied himself with the level of air transport access from the United Kingdom and Continental Europe to regional airports located on the west coast of Ireland. [17446/95]
The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland. The regional airports are owned and operated by private undertakings and, as such, the developmental plans, traffic potential and viability of these airports are primarily matters for the individual airport companies. However, the Deputy will be aware that, in order to improve access to the regions from abroad through the network of air services operating to and from Dublin, my Department, this year, introduced a programme of essential air services in accordance with EU Council Regulation 2408/92. This programme, which covers services between four regional airports — Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Donegal — and Dublin, is designed to guarantee a minimum level of air services to the regions. So far, operating contracts have been awarded for Kerry/Dublin and Galway/Dublin routes. This programme applies to routes within Ireland only, as international services must be operated on a fully commercial basis.
