asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total amount of public money spent in preparation for the Aerlínte service now abandoned between Ireland and America, including cost of Constellations and special training of technicians to operate the proposed service; further, if he can state whether this service could have been operated on a paying basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Air Service.
Capital expenditure by Aerlínte Éireann to the 31st March, 1948, has been estimated at £1,598,000. This includes expenditure on the purchase of aircraft and equipment. Net expenditure by the company on training, development and other preliminary and running expenses to the same date has been estimated at £504,000.
Estimates of revenue and expenditure furnished by the company in February, 1948, indicated that there would be a loss in the first year of operation of £315,000. These estimates were subsequently revised by the company and their most recent estimates provided for a loss of £163,500. Estimates of the probable trading results for subsequent years were not prepared.