Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 8

Written Answers. - Regional Airports.

Michael Ring

Question:

91 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the grants or subsidies, if any, that are available for regional airports to develop internal flights within Ireland; and, if not, the plans, if any, she has to introduce these. [19582/97]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

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

Within the European Economic Area (EEA-15 EU member states, Norway and Iceland), licensed EEA airlines are free to operate on any international route without Government or EU control. Since 1 April 1997 such carriers are also free to provide internal air services within another EEA state (cabotage), subject to certain limited exceptions. The question as to whether an airline wishes to exercise its right to operate on any particular route is, however, entirely a matter for the airline to decide on the basis of its own commercial judgment.

The regional airports 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 scheme of Exchequer subvented air services as provided for under EU Council Regulation 2408/92. This programme, which commenced in January 1995, applies to services between four regional airports — Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Donegal — and Dublin, and is designed to guarantee a minimum level of air services to the regions. The Government recently decided to extend the scheme in relation to Kerry, Galway and Sligo for a further three years when the existing contracts expire in January 1998. The contract in relation to Donegal has a further two years to run.

I would also advise the Deputy 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, in 1996 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.

Finally, I hope to be in a position shortly to respond to requests from a number of regional airports for Exchequer capital grants to assist towards the cost of certain infrastructural improvements at the airports.