Jimmy Deenihan
Question:11 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the regional airports. [15768/04]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2004
11 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the regional airports. [15768/04]
View answer15 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the subsidy provided to each regional airport per passenger over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15778/04]
View answer78 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the development of regional airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/04]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 11, 15 and 78 together.
The programme for Government provides for the continued support of our six regional airports. My Department provides a range of financial mechanisms in support of this objective but it is important to note that the regional airports are not in receipt of State subsidies as such.
With regard to capital funding, grant aid of approximately €9 million has already been paid to the regional airports under first round allocations of the regional airports measure of the national development plan, NDP. The primary objective of this measure is to facilitate continued safe and viable operations at the regional airports. A further round of projects will be considered for funding under the measure later this year.
My Department also administers a grant scheme to assist the regional airports with marketing, safety and security related current expenditure. The total amount provisionally allocated in the Estimates for 2004 is €2.24 million and the individual amounts for each airport will be determined shortly.
My Department provides subvention to contracted regional air carriers for the operation of essential air services under the public service obligation, PSO, regime. EU Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2408/92 allows member states to establish a PSO in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region, where such air services are considered essential for the economic development of the regions concerned and where air carriers are not prepared to provide such air services on a commercial basis. In accordance with this regulation, the Government has established PSOs on routes linking Dublin Airport with the airports in Kerry, Galway, Knock, Sligo and Donegal. The total cost of air service subvention to PSO carriers amounts to over €20 million per annum.
Regarding subsidy per passenger, it is important to note that subvention is not allocated by reference to the number of passengers using the services, per se. The governing regulation stipulates that subvention should be based on the losses actually incurred in operating the routes, taking account of costs and revenues generated by the services, subject to a ceiling represented by the amount put forward in the tender submitted by the successful air carrier during the tender process. In any event, the subvention level per trip per passenger for the past five years is as follows.
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Kerry |
13.71 |
12.17 |
44.27 |
54.59 |
55.17 |
Galway |
18.55 |
18.86 |
46.57 |
47.19 |
51.67 |
Sligo |
41.60 |
35.75 |
120.10 |
101.78 |
80.49* |
Donegal |
90.57 |
77.28 |
119.80 |
110.78 |
80.49* |
Knock |
— |
— |
233.17 |
226.58 |
224.87 |
Derry |
— |
— |
113.89 |
95.10 |
77.56 |