Eamon Gilmore
Question:55 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding the Dublin to Donegal airlink. [6066/98]
Written Answers - Dublin to Donegal Airlink.
There was no service on the Dublin-Donegal public service obligation air route during the period 13 February-1 March 1998. This was due to the cessation of services by the air carrier which had been operating the route, EI Air Exports Ltd., trading as Ireland Airways, following the appointment by the High Court of a provisional liquidator to that company.
Following examination of a number of offers submitted by airlines to my Department for operation of the route up to the end of 1998, I decided to award the operating contract for the route to Aer Arann. Service on the route by Aer Arann started on 2 March 1998. This is an interim arrangement pending the holding of a competition under EU regulations to secure an operator for the route.