Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Air Transport.

John Gormley

Question:

11 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on whether the current air transport infrastructure is sufficient to deal with record numbers of air transport users; and the plans, if any, she has to facilitate the upgrading of the air transport infrastructure. [22732/97]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I am satisfied that the programme of infrastructural developments already under way and those planned to take place over the next number of years will be more than adequate to keep pace with the ongoing growth in air traffic.

My Department is overseeing capital investment programmes totalling over £200 million at the three State airports over the years 1996-2001. These programmes are subject to review in order to establish whether they should be accelerated, decelerated or modified in the light of traffic or other developments. In addition, I recently announced the Government's decision that £5 million will be made available for necessary infrastructural improvements at the regional airports in Donegal, Galway, Knock, Sligo and Waterford in 1998.