Vol. 462 No. 5
243 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the current position regarding availability of European Union grants for development of regional airports; his views on the future prospects for regional airports in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4987/96]
Almost £21 million (£10.5 million European Regional Development Fund aid) was spent under the Operational Programme on Peripherality 1989-1993 on upgrading the infrastructure of the six regional airports. As a result these airports now have the capacity to handle anticipated traffic levels to the end of the century and beyond. The emphasis must now be on attracting additional services and passengers into those airports. Accordingly, no financial provision has been made for regional airports in the Operational Programme on Transport (1994-1999).
The regional airports are owned and operated by private undertakings. Therefore, the future prospects and development plans for these airports are matters for the individual airport companies. Under an essential air services programme operated by my Department in accordance with EU regulations, a number of the regional airports may benefit from Exchequer-subsidised air services for a period, as a measure to assist such airports and their regions.
