Vol. 487 No. 5
I wish to share my time with my constituency colleague, Deputy Coughlan.
I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. I thank the Minister for Public Enterprise for being present. I know what a busy schedule she has.
I wanted to take the matter myself.
I appreciate that very much. On Friday last, 13 February, the liquidation of a Dublin air freight company, EI Air Exports, caused the suspension of the daily passenger air service between Donegal International Airport at Carrickfin and Dublin. This service was operated by Ireland Airways, a subsidiary of the aforementioned company. It was approved under a three year tender contract between the Department of Public Enterprise and the EU's essential air service programme.
Since its start up a little over a year ago, the Donegal to Dublin route has generated over 11,000 airline passengers. This is a remarkable achievement considering that both the airline and the route were new to the travel and aviation industry. Against this background the directors and staff of Donegal International Airport, Carrickfin, have — through their own tourism promotional activities and in association County Donegal Tourism, the North West Tourism Organisation and Bord Fáilte — worked hard to establish the market and get the message across to business and tourism interests.
The ease of access to County Donegal provided by the airline services opened new opportunities for investment and industrial development. The airline service between Donegal and Dublin has made a huge difference. It offered great relief to people making hospital visits for specialised treatments from the North Western Health Board area, shortening their journey time to Dublin in comfort. For the first time, local industrialists were able to invite customers and suppliers to visit Donegal-based manufacturing plants, which had for long been seen as too distant and difficult to visit. Companies thereby secured new export orders and increased employment in many Donegal and Gaeltacht companies. New investors have agreed to set up business through Údarás na Gaeltachta because of the easier access gained through using the airline services.
It is a major disappointment to lose such services, particularly at a time when traffic growth was being sustained and the viability of the service was supported under the PSO arrangements with the Department. I am aware that the PSO routes to Galway, Kerry and Sligo — which Aer Lingus operates under similar EU essential air service tenders — are due for renewal.
Why is Donegal out on a limb as Aer Lingus operates such routes from Dublin every day? Why can Donegal not receive the same service support? Kerry and Galway have three flights daily. With no railway station or proper road access, the airport at Carrickfin has made a huge contribution to the business community. The air journey to Donegal from Dublin is a little over 45 minutes, 65 minutes from London and two hours from Brussels. Given proper support, the airport will enable the county to compete nationally and internationally for more tourism growth and inward investment.
If action is not taken swiftly, opportunities for Donegal will continue to decline further. We need a speedy resolution to the problems caused by the demise of EI Air Exports. The area can and will prosper even more with the support of the national and international marketing reputation that Aer Lingus provides elsewhere in the country.
Ireland Airways, or any other option, cannot provide the necessary international focus and product distribution. The other regional airports all began such services over ten years ago. There is no reason Donegal cannot develop to at least one service daily to meet some of the regional distribution of visitor numbers and investment as demanded by Government policy. The people of Donegal deserve a favourable decision and an immediate airline replacement must be found to continue the success achieved by Ireland Airways until other more suitable and permanent arrangements are agreed.
Mar fhocal scor ba mhaith liom iarraidh ar an Aire gach dícheall a dhéanamh le seirbhís eile a chur ar fáil gan mhoill in ionad an tseirbhís atá ag dul chun críoch. Tá sé an-tábhachtach, ní hamhain do mhuintir Dhún na nGall, dosna tionsclóirí, don fhorbairt tionsclaíochta agus turasóireachta, ach dosna hothair a thagann ó Dhún na nGall go Baile Átha Cliath faoi choinne cóir leigheasa a shá isteach san otharlann ann.
I thank my colleague for allowing me some minutes to emphasise and support the plea of the constituency of Donegal South-West for a return of the service which, unfortunately, it lost last Friday. Donegal International Airport has developed over the past number of years not only with the support of Donegal County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta but also with the support of those who live in Gaeltacht areas and the industrial base there. It is vital this link is restored. I cannot emphasise enough to the Minister the absolute necessity to deal with the matter immediately and prior to any more permanent decisions being made about the route. It is an essential air service and it is also used by many unfortunate patients who must come to Dublin for medical assistance. It is vital the service is returned as we approach the beginning of the tourism season, something on which we are very dependent in south Donegal. I hope the Minister can make a temporary solution until there is a more permanent option and the return of the daily return flight from Donegal to Dublin. We had hoped to be developing and increasing the flights from Dublin to Donegal in the next few years. I hope every effort will be made to find an alternative airline to deal with the situation.
I thank Deputy McGinley, my colleague, Deputy Coughlan, Pat Gallagher, MEP, who was in touch with me over the past few days, and Deputy Gildea, who contacted me by telephone. I am glad to be able to respond to the debate.
I met a deputation from Donegal Airport led by Pat Gallagher, MEP, shortly before Christmas. There was a great fear about this company operating the air service to and from Donegal. I concur with everything said about fast and frequent access to the regions. It is as important for domestic business and foreign-owned firms as it is for tourists. It is especially important for Donegal. I visited Carrickfin airport when I was in Donegal two years ago. I was amazed by the lovely building, the way it was kept and the obvious enthusiasm of those who worked in it. There is a clear necessity for it as it is situated in and serves a vast region.
State-subvented air services started in 1995 and these are regulated by a European Council regulation which provides for the attaching of public service obligations to scheduled air services. The competitive tenders process began in 1996 and the Dublin-Donegal air route was awarded to Air Exports Ltd., based at Dublin Airport. The service commenced in August 1996. Last week, the High Court appointed a provisional liquidator following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners. The company has ceased operations and can no longer provide a service.
If any part of Ireland needs an Exchequer subvented air service, it is the north west. No rail services link Donegal to Dublin and the road journey takes between five and six hours. The air service introduced in 1996 was warmly welcomed and 21,000 passengers were carried on the route in 1997. The delegation I met told me that numbers were holding up even in winter. Therefore, they wanted the continuation of the service guaranteed.
To secure a carrier for the route, it is necessary to arrange for a formal competition to comply with the European directive and the route would be advertised in the European Union Official Journal to see if air carriers are interested. Before that is done, an immediate replacement must be secured. If the route is left vacant, business will decline. I asked my Department to secure a replacement carrier for the route on an interim basis as quickly as possible until a formal competition is arranged. We invited bids from interested air carriers before close of business tomorrow, Friday, 20 February for the operation of the route up to the end of 1998 pending holding the competition. Those bids will be submitted by tomorrow evening and, in advance of that, my Department has already been in touch with interested carriers. Two firm competitive bids have been submitted and others have until tomorrow to respond to it.
I am committed to ensuring the service will be operable within a week and I hope earlier, pending clearance and related matters. I am concerned the route is reactivated as quickly as possible. It is hoped to have it operable within a week and I do not believe I am being over optimistic in saying that. Whoever is chosen will be quizzed to ensure they are ready for "take off".
