Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
593. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department has concerns regarding the viability of Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2216/15]
View answer594. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he and his Department are taking to ensure that Cork Airport remains competitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2217/15]
View answer595. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department is aware of future redundancies in Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2218/15]
View answer596. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department is aware of any new chartered flight plans for Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2219/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 to 596, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, the DAA is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. In these circumstances, responsibility for any new chartered flight plans for Cork Airport, any future redundancies, the competitiveness and viability of that Airport are all matters for DAA and Cork Airport management, and are not matters in which I have a direct role.
That said, I am very conscious of the importance of Cork Airport for business and tourism in the Cork region. I am also very aware of, and concerned about, the continuing decline in passenger numbers at the airport. It was because of this decline that the Cork Airport Development Council (CADC) was established under an initiative of my predecessor, with the intention of bringing key local stakeholders together to foster a common understanding of issues of concern, identify potential opportunities for growth and to address the operating performance of the airport.
Furthermore, following the restructuring of the State airports under the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, Cork Airport was provided with a new management structure aimed at putting the airport on a sound footing to manage and develop its business on a competitive, commercially driven basis. That structure is now bedded down and the airport, the DAA and the CADC are focussing their efforts on identifying new route markets and developing new services.
I believe that there are opportunities, particularly in the tourism sector, to grow incoming passenger numbers in the Cork region. I am aware that DAA has attractive incentive programmes available that encourage the introduction of new routes and services. In addition, I understand from Tourism Ireland that there are opportunities under its cooperative marketing initiative to encourage the introduction of new services. Ultimately, however, creating new services and growing inbound tourism depends on the availability of competitive access and ensuring that potential visitors have a reason to visit. Cork Airport, the DAA and the CADC, along with the regional stakeholders, should be pursuing every opportunity to highlight the tourism product that is available in its catchment area.
I am confident that the DAA and Cork Airport management, working with the stakeholders in the region can together consolidate its product, identify new opportunities and return growth to the airport.
