Tony Killeen
Question:144 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will give details of access transport (details supplied) in relation to Shannon Airport and the regional airports. [18945/96]
Written Answers. - Air Services.
Full details of existing air services to Shannon and the regional airports are available from the relevant airports.
The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland. A very liberal framework is in place in relation to access to and from our main markets i.e. UK, mainland Europe and the US. However, the question of whether any airline wishes to exercise traffic rights available to them is entirely a matter for the airline on the basis of its own commercial judgment.
In relation to access from Europe, all European Economic Area, EEA, airlines are free to operate on any international route within the EEA without any restriction on frequency, provided slots are available at airports. Outside the EEA access is governed by the relevant bilateral air agreement. A liberal policy is generally adopted by my Department in regard to traffic rights granted under these agreements particularly in relation to Shannon.
In relation to access from the US I should point out that under existing policy enshrined in the Ireland-US Air Agreement, there are no restrictions whatsoever on US airlines operating services, either scheduled or charter, from any point in the US to Shannon. In addition, US airlines may operate any number of direct non-stop charter services from any point in the US to Knock Airport. Similarly Irish airlines can operate an unlimited number of charter services to Shannon and Knock from any US point and unlimited scheduled services to Shannon from four US points i.e. New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In addition under the agreement, US airlines have fifth freedom rights at Shannon to all points beyond i.e. the right to carry local traffic to a third country.
In relation to access to the regional airports, as the Deputy is aware these are owned and operated by private undertakings and as such the development 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 has 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, Galway-Dublin and Donegal-Dublin routes. This programme applies to routes within Ireland only.
The Deputy will also be aware that, in order to assist the regional airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports, marketing grants were paid by my Department to the six regional airports during 1993 and 1995. Furthermore, arising from financial and other difficulties being experienced by most of Ireland's privately owned regional airports, a review of policy relating to these airports was carried out by my Department earlier this year. As a result of this review the Government approved a strictly time limited scheme of Exchequer grants totalling £2.35 million over the four years 1996 to 1999 for the six regional airports to assist the airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports.
In relation to marketing of Shannon Airport, the Government agreed in 1994 to approve the payment of special grants for the marketing of Shannon Airport for a three year period covering the years 1995 to 1997. Since October 1995 responsibility for marketing Shannon Airport has been transferred to Aer Rianta and a grant in aid amounting to £1.8 million is available for that purpose in 1996.