I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this issue. I have raised the future of Cork airport many times over the past four years. My interest is to ensure that the proposed extension of the airport will proceed. I had thought this had been sorted out and that plans were in place to accommodate the 2.2 million passengers projected to be travelling through the airport by 2005. The airport can currently handle one million passengers. It accommodated 1.8 million last year and it has reached and clearly exceeded its capacity. Matters are difficult for the staff and passengers, particularly at weekends.
Most people would acknowledge that it has suffered from underinvestment and neglect. I am not being parochial, this is a very serious issue not alone for the future development of Cork but for the whole region. It is important that we recognise the value of the airport to the region. It is important for tourism but also in terms of attracting investment. It is an international airport and is a very attractive selling point to investors who wish to come in and establish industry in the Cork area. It is important that we underpin its long-term viability. I first saw plans for this three years ago but nothing came of them. I have raised the matter with the Minister for Public Enterprise on several occasions, as have other Members. Last September was the 40th anniversary of the airport and Mr. Noel Hanlon, the chief executive of the board, came to Cork and confirmed that the plan, as outlined, would go ahead. Those plans included a terminal extension, multi-storey car park and air-bridges to facilitate passengers. Planning permission is to be sought for the development.
I raise this issue because I was alarmed last week, as were many of my colleagues in the Cork area, to hear Aer Rianta state that the interim report of the interdepartmental group requested a terminal facility at Dublin Airport to accommodate low cost airlines. Aer Rianta stated that those proposals could put the proposed investment in Cork Airport at risk. That simply must not happen. I recognise the value of bringing more tourists into the country and I understand it has been a dreadful year for tourism – we all know that. We need more tourists but not at the expense of the future development of Cork Airport. That is an extremely important point. The Minister must recognise that and get a promise from Aer Rianta that any development of Dublin Airport will not affect Cork Airport. We need balanced regional development and more tourism but we must also spread the tourists around. The Cork-Kerry area is very valuable for tourism and it is important when negotiations are begun with Ryanair, Go or any other low cost airline to bring in more tourists that that is recognised.
I thank the Minister of State for replying to this matter and I ask her to pass my comments on to the Minister for Public Enterprise. I know the Minister for Public Enterprise has already said today during Priority Questions that the work will go ahead
I stress the future development of Cork Airport and that Cork Airport should be included in negotiations to bring more tourists into the country. We have heard Dublin and Shannon mentioned but not Cork. It is essential not only to have airport development but that we also have more air routes into the Cork region.