Vol. 477 No. 2
323 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the amount of funding provided in Galway city and county for airport developments by his Department in 1996; and the provision, if any, made for such investment in the 1997 Estimates. [9164/97]
No capital grants were provided by my Department in 1996 for airport development in Galway and there is no provision in 1997 for Exchequer funding for that purpose. An Exchequer grant of £40,000 was, however, provided for Galway Airport in 1996 towards the cost of marketing and promoting the airport. A similar amount has been included for Galway in the regional airport marketing grants subhead of my Department's Vote for 1997.
In addition to the above mentioned grants, an Exchequer funded essential air services programme, which includes the Galway-Dublin link, is in place. This programme commenced in January 1995 and will continue in 1997.
In addition I have agreed to promote the introduction into the operational programme for transport of a new measure in respect of residual works at certain regional airports, including runway extension and widening at Galway Airport. This proposal is, of course, subject to approval by the relevant EU monitoring committee.
