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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 3

Written Answers. - Regional Airports Development.

Robert Molloy

Question:

34 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the measures, if any, he has taken to encourage continued access development to regional airports from Europe and the United Kingdom; the measures, if any, he has taken to improve access development to the west from the major tourist markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6030/97]

The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland.

In relation to access from Europe, all European Economic Area airlines are free to operate on any international route within the EEA without any restrictions on frequency, or capacity, provided slots are available at airports.

In relation to access to the regional airports as the Deputy is aware, these are owned and operated by private undertakings. The development plans, traffic potential and viability of these airports are therefore primarily matters for the individual airport companies.

The Deputy will be aware that 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.

The Deputy will also be aware that, 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 in 1996. As a result of this 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 access to and from our main markets i.e. UK, mainland Europe and the US, a very liberal regulatory framework is in place. 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. As mentioned earlier, EEA airlines are free to operate on any international route within the EEA.

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.

In relation to access from the US; under existing policy enshrined in the Ireland-US air agreement, there are no restrictions 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.
As the Deputy is aware, a steering group comprising officials of my Department and the Department of Tourism and Trade and representatives from Aer Rianta and Bord Fáilte was set up in December, 1995 —by my predecessor and by my colleague Deputy Enda Kenny, Minister for Tourism and Trade — to look at the issue of US-Ireland access. I outlined the work of this group and the main conclusions of their report in my answer to the House on 5 December, 1996. The steering group will continue to monitor the US-Ireland access issue and advise Ministers accordingly.
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