Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2011
441 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reinstate the public service obligation subvention to the Derry-Dublin air link in acknowledgement of the fact that there is no direct rail link and poor roads infrastructure linking the two cities and by extension north and east Donegal. [6419/11]
View answerI understand the decision to reduce the number of routes covered by PSO services was taken by the previous Government in line with the Value for Money Review of Exchequer Expenditure on the Regional Airports Programme, which took account of a number of factors including the performance of the services, the requirement to make best use of scarce Exchequer resources and improvements in alternative transport modes and changes in EU legislation covering PSO services. In the circumstances, it is not my intention to revisit the decision on the Derry PSO route. However, I can confirm that my Department is progressing the measures necessary to continue the Donegal-Dublin PSO.
