Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
295. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total operational expenditure subvention, OPEX, and capital expenditure, CAPEX, grants paid to Kerry Airport in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12616/14]
View answerExchequer support for regional airports is provided under the Regional Airports Programme which includes the Capital Expenditure Grants (CAPEX) Scheme, the Operational Expenditure Subvention (OPEX) Scheme and a Scheme for subventing Public Service Obligations (PSO) air services operating between Kerry and Dublin and Donegal and Dublin.
Capital expenditure is focussed on safety and security projects, aimed at ensuring that each airport can comply with required national and international aviation safety and security standards. The aim of the OPEX subvention scheme is to compensate the regional airports for the costs incurred in providing core airport services insofar as these costs cannot be fully recovered from the income that the airports derive from their normal range of services and activities. It is important to note that OPEX subvention only arises when a loss is incurred by an airport and is not paid when the airport breaks even or makes a profit. Details of Capex and Opex Exchequer funding for Kerry Airport for the period 2011-2013 are as follows:
|
Capex (Capital Grants) |
2011 €,000 |
2012 €,000 |
2013 €,000 |
|
Kerry |
399 |
1,634 |
741 |
|
Opex (Operational Expenditure Support) |
2011 €,000 |
2012 €,000 |
2013 €,000 |
|
Kerry |
950 |
550 |
437 |
