Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 6

Written Answers - Cork Air Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

55 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will have discussions with both Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta regarding the level of air services to and from Cork, in view of the need to create greater access to areas outside of Dublin for business and tourism development. [3456/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department's policy is to actively encourage and facilitate as wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive commercial air services to meet the needs of Irish tourism, trade and industry. The free market established within the European Economic Area, EEA, provides the framework for achieving this objective. All licensed EEA air carriers are essentially free to provide services on any national or international routes within the EEA with no controls on access to networks or on the capacity or fares that can be offered.

The decision as to whether an airline wishes to exercise its right to operate on a particular route is, however, essentially a matter for the airline concerned to decide on the basis of market forces and its own commercial judgment.

I should add that there has been very strong growth in terminal traffic at Cork airport in recent years, increasing from about 690,000 in 1992 to almost 1.2 million in 1997 — up over 70 per cent in five years. In this regard I would like to commend Aer Rianta Cork management and staff for their excellent contribution towards this growth.

Because of this dramatic growth Aer Rianta has accelerated their forward development programme at Cork Airport. The expansion programme now under way at Cork Airport up to 2001 will involve capital expenditure of £18 million on upgrading runway and passenger terminal facilities.

I am aware that some concerns have been expressed about the adequacy of flights to and from Cork airport to service the needs of the tourism and business sectors in the Cork region. I am also very conscious of the infrastructural needs of the regions in terms of promoting balanced economic development of Ireland.

I note that a consultant has been engaged by IDA-Forfás to analyse possible solutions to the perceived air travel needs of the business community in the Cork and Shannon regions and to identify ways of improving the adequacy of air services, for example, through schedule changes or provision of increased or new services. It is intended that the consultant will, in association with Aer Rianta, make presentations to air carriers including, of course, Aer Lingus on the scope for improved commercial air services. I look forward to the outcome of this study.