asked the Minister for Transport and Power when he will publish the report in connection with the study of internal air traffic in Ireland which was undertaken by an international transport consultant and submitted to Bord Fáilte in 1972.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Internal Air Services.
149.
The study in question was commissioned by Bord Fáilte to assist the board and other agencies involved in regard to proposals being made for development of internal air services and local or regional landing facilities. I understand that it is not the intention to publish the study.
Would the Minister agree that the provision of an internal air service, particularly along the west coast, serving Farranfore in Kerry, Shannon, Oranmore in Galway, Castlebar and some place in Donegal would be a very important contribution to the ideal of decentralisation—an ideal to which each party in this House are committed? An airport would be needed in Donegal to complete a chain of airports along the west coast.
I would agree with the desirability of internal air services where their operations would shorten significantly the time spent in travel. However experience has shown that such services over a range such as would be the case in this country would not pay. That raises the question of the merits of subsidisation bearing in mind the relative convenience of, say, rail travel and the fact that we would be subsidising one body to compete with another which itself often has to be subsidised. The whole question would have to be examined carefully.
I am aware that the question is one which requires careful examination but perhaps the Minister would give a commitment in principle to the desirability of such an internal air service particularly along the west coast. Of course it would have to be subsidised. Would the Minister agree in principle that such an internal air service would represent a useful contribution to the development of the west and therefore would be well worth subsidising if such were necessary?
We must distinguish here between this question of internal air services in the west, which is a particular problem, and internal air services generally. The Minister for the Gaeltacht has been developing proposals for air services in the western Gaeltacht areas and for that purpose Gaeltarra Éireann are taking a shareholding in Aer Aran, but the question put to me related to the general question of internal air services. On the suggestion of an airport in Donegal, the brief does not guide me on this point but my understanding is that such an airport is being developed at Gweedore. However, I do not wish that to be taken as authentic information. It is heresay on my part.