Vol. 526 No. 3
176 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the specifications laid down for the PSO tender to cover the Dublin to Derry air service; when it is planned to have this service operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26630/00]
The specifications which must be met by air carriers with an interest in operating the Derry/Dublin PSO route were published in the EU Official Journal on 15 September and 28 September 2000. Those specifications include a requirement for at least two daily return flights, seven days per week and the schedule involved should provide for an early morning departure from Derry to Dublin and a late evening return from Dublin to Derry. The minimum daily seating capacity to be provided is 50 seats each way and the aircraft to be used on the route must have a seating capacity of at least 30 seats.
The published specifications also refer to the range of fares that may be charged on the route. These provide for a maximum return fare of IR£97 in respect of 40% of the daily seat capacity. A further 40% of daily seat capacity is to be provided at IR£87 or lower while the remaining 20% of seats are not subject to fare restrictions.
The invitation to air carriers to tender for the Derry/Dublin route, and for five other 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 commencement of the Derry/Dublin PSO service as planned in mid-January 2001.
