Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - Landing Charges.

Ivan Yates

Question:

96 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the Government's policy in relation to landing charges at airports; and the progress, if any, which has been made to abolish landing charges for new routes to Irish airports for five years. [18538/97]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The agreed Government programme seeks to put new momentum into our transport system, including the opening up of new air links. Competitive access costs are essential to achieve this target.

In addition to having basic charges which are competitive by reference to other European airports, Aer Rianta currently operates a rolling five year traffic growth incentive scheme designed to stimulate scheduled passenger traffic at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports. Under this scheme, no airport charges are levied for new traffic at Shannon and Cork for the first three years, with a 90 per cent discount applying at Dublin. In addition a 50 per cent discount applies in respect of years four and five at Shannon and Cork while a 70 per cent discount applies at Dublin.

The question of extending these incentives further at the State airports would require careful consideration in the light of their implications for traffic through the privately-owned and operated regional airports.

As the regional airports are privately owned and run I have no function in regard to the landing charges at the regional airports and, accordingly, I am not in a position to comment on them.