Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Regional Airports.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

138 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has to fund regional airports following the withdrawal of duty free facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19778/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I fully recognise the difficult conditions under which the regional airports operate and I am very much aware that the abolition of duty free has added to their difficulties.

The Government is committed to supporting the regional airports and has stated so in the Programme for Government. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has maintained and enhanced a range of regional airport grant schemes with a view to sustaining the regional airport network into the future.

Under the 1996-99 marketing scheme, an annual sum of £588,000 was made available to assist the airports with the very necessary work of winning new customers and exploiting new markets. The sum was, in fact, increased to £700,000 this year. A further provision of marketing funds will be proposed by my Department for the year 2000, to be considered by Government in the context of next year's Estimates for Government expenditure.

The Government also made Exchequer funding of £5 million available last year, to enable the regional airports carry out a range of infrastructural developments. In the context of the National Development Plan, which is currently being finalised, proposals are being considered in my Department for further capital expenditure assistance for the regional airports. Of course, any recommendations made by me in this regard, will be a matter for the consideration of the Government.

In addition, four of the six regional airports are served by a public service obligation route under the essential air services programme. This programme receives an annual subvention of £3.3 million.