Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 May 2008
275 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport the air routes currently the subject of aviation PSOs; the value of each aviation PSO route; his views on the extension of the PSO mechanism on the Waterford-Dublin route for example; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19857/08]
View answerUnder the terms of the relevant EU Council Regulation, (EEC) No. 2408/92 of 23 July 1992, Member States can establish a PSO route in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory, where such air services are considered vital for the economic development of the regions concerned and where air carriers are not prepared to provide them on a commercial basis.
The current PSO 3 year programme comprises the following return flights to Dublin:
|
No. |
|
|
Kerry |
3 return flights |
|
Galway |
3 return flights |
|
Sligo and Donegal |
2 return flights |
|
Derry |
2 return flights |
|
Knock |
1 return flight |
The contract cost of the programme over the current contractual period (22 July 2005 to 21 July 2008) is:
|
€m |
|
|
Kerry |
9.025 |
|
Galway |
8.999 |
|
Sligo/Donegal |
15.526 |
|
Derry/Knock |
12.266 |
|
Grand Total |
45.816 |
I recently announced the results of the tender competition for the next contractual period (22 July 2008-21 July 2011). The cost of the programme over that period is expected to be as follows:
|
€m |
|
|
Kerry |
5.250 |
|
Galway |
10.016 |
|
Sligo/Donegal |
16.925 |
|
Derry |
7.568 |
|
Knock |
4.865 |
|
Grand Total |
44.624 |
The question of introducing a PSO air service on the Waterford-Dublin route was first raised in 1993. I understand that the E.U. Commission refused to sanction the proposal because the route is relatively short and because Waterford was already adequately served by other transport modes. In the interim, the relevant surface transport links have been upgraded and continue to be improved. In the circumstances, I have no proposals to revive the question of including the airport in the Irish PSO air service programme. However €22.3 million has been allocated to Waterford airport under the regional airports capital expenditure grant scheme as part of Transport 21. In 2007, Waterford received €1.3m in operational subvention for the airport and I expect to consider a further application for subvention to the airport in the current year.
