Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013
42. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on meetings he has held with interest groups relating to Knock Airport and its future and any commitments made to secure its continued operation. [15055/13]
View answerWhile I have not had meetings with interest groups regarding Ireland West - Knock Airport, since coming to office, senior officials of my Department and I have had meetings and engagements with Knock Airport itself on a number of occasions. Most recently, I met the Board of the Airport, along with the Taoiseach in Mayo on 28 January 2013. At that meeting, it was agreed that a Study Group would be established, with participation at a senior level from my Department, focussed on securing the future of the airport. The intention was that the Group, to be chaired by Deputy John O’Mahony, would report in a short time frame and following the Group’s report, the Government would engage further with the Airport on how best to progress matters.
Since then, the Board of Knock Airport and my officials have been putting arrangements in place for the Study Group, including nominations and the terms of reference for the Group to enable the Study Group’s work to commence in the coming weeks.
The Taoiseach and I have made it clear that the Government is keen to work with Knock Airport to secure its future but that such co-operation would have to be on a realistic basis within State aid rules and recognising exchequer constraints and the need to treat other regional airports similarly.
I am hopeful that the outcome of the Study Group’s work, which is taking place in parallel with the development of a future Aviation Policy for Ireland launched by me last December at a major Aviation Conference in Dublin, can form a useful input into that Policy and assist in identifying the future role of the airport along with other regional airports in Ireland. The Government believe that the airport should continue to perform the important role of providing air connectivity to its hinterland in the years to come.
