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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Airport Routes.

Jim Higgins

Question:

271 Mr. J. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the situation regarding approval for the public service obligation route linking Knock Airport, County Mayo with Dublin; the number of flights involved; and the seating capacity in this regard. [23988/00]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

275 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position in relation to the PSO routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24305/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 275 together.

The contracts governing the four existing PSO routes which link the airports in Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Kerry with Dublin expire in January and February 2001 and in accordance with EU Council Regulation 2408/92, my Department is currently engaged in a tendering exercise to select air carriers for these routes for the next three years. As the Deputies will be aware, I am also establishing two new PSO routes linking Derry and Knock with Dublin and the current tendering process also covers these routes.
The specifications which must be met by interested air carriers on each of the six PSO routes were published in the EU Official Journal on 15 September and 28 September 2000. In the case of the Knock-Dublin PSO, those specifications include a requirement for at least one daily return flight, seven days per week and the schedule involved should provide for an early morning departure from Knock to Dublin and a late evening return from Dublin to Knock. The minimum seating capacity to be provided is 30 seats each way.
The invitation to air carriers to tender for the Knock-Dublin route and for the other five PSO routes was published in the EU Official Journal on 16 September 2000. The closing date for submission of tenders was 17 October 2000. In all, four airlines submitted tenders covering the six PSO routes and these are currently being evaluated by my Department. In accordance with regulation 2408/92, copies of the tenders have been sent to the EU Commission and a period of two months must elapse after the deadline for submission of tenders before any selection is made. Our aim is to secure the completion of all necessary procedures in time to ensure continuity of services on the four existing PSO routes when the current contracts expire and that the two new routes to Knock and Derry commence as planned in mid-January.
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