Vol. 472 No. 4
159 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the measures, if any, he has introduced to encourage the establishment of a scheduled air service from Galway Airport to the United Kingdom and continental airports. [23515/96]
Since the establishment of the Single Market on 1 January 1993, all member state 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 judgment.
The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland. The regional airports, including Galway Airport, 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.
However, the Deputy will be aware that in order to improve access to the regions from abroad through 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 — Galway, Kerry, 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 Galway-Dublin, Kerry-Dublin and Donegal-Dublin routes. In so far as Galway Airport is concerned Aer Lingus is contracted to provide two daily round trips.
The Deputy will also be aware that, in order to assist the regional airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports, marketing grants were paid by my Department to the six regional airport during 1993 and 1995. Furthermore, arising from financial and other difficulties being experienced by most of Ireland's privately owned regional airports, a review of policy relating to these airports was carried out by my Department earlier this year. As a result of this review the Government approved a strictly time limited scheme of Exchequer grants totalling £2.35 million over the four years 1996 to 1999 for the six regional airports to assist the airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports.
