Vol. 467 No. 7
33 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the developments, if any, to date regarding increased access to western regional airports from United Kingdom and continental destinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13430/96]
The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland.
The regional airports are owned and operated by private undertakings and as such the development plans, traffic potential and viability of these airports are primarily matters for the individual airport companies. I should also point out that since the establishment of the Single Market on 1 January 1993, all member states airlines are free to operate on any international route within the European economic area without any restriction on frequency, provided slots are available at airports. The question of whether any airline wishes to exercise such rights is, however, entirely a matter for the airline to decide on the basis of its own commercial judgement.
However, the Deputy will be aware that in order to improve access to the regions from abroad thorough the network of air services operating to and from Dublin, my Department has introduced a programme of essential air services in accordance with EU Council Regulation 2408/92. This programme, which covers services between four regional airports — Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Donegal — and Dublin, is designed to guarantee a minimum level of air services to the regions.
So far operating contracts have been awarded for Kerry/Dublin and Galway/Dublin routes. This programme applies to routes within Ireland only.
The Deputy will also be aware that, in order to assist the airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports, marketing grants were paid by my Department to the six regional airports during 1993 and 1995. Furthermore, I announced just recently the Government's approval for a similar income of Exchequer grants for the six regional airports which will total £2.35 million over the four years to 1999.
