Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

101 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her proposals to introduce a public service obligation flight between Waterford Regional Airport and Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31724/01]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

102 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the situation regarding Galway Airport in the public service obligation contracts which will be put out to tender in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31730/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

I have no proposals at this time to introduce a public service obligation on the Waterford-Dublin air route. I would have any application I might receive for the establishment of such a PSO carefully examined and assessed by my Department. As the Deputy is aware, the EU Commission previously rejected proposals for a PSO route linking Waterford and Dublin on the grounds that the distance involved is relatively short and that the route was adequately served by other transport modes.

EuroCeltic currently provides daily air services from Waterford to Luton. Last month this air carrier commenced a service from Waterford to Liverpool on Mondays and Fridays. These services are provided by EuroCeltic on a commercial basis in conjunction with assistance from the airport authorities in Waterford. I allocated £200,000 or 253,948 to Waterford Airport this year to support marketing/promotional efforts and safety and security measures at the airport.

The contract to provide air services on the Galway/Dublin PSO route and on the PSO routes linking Kerry, Sligo, Knock, and Donegal with Dublin will be subject to a new tender competition in accordance with the provisions of EU Council Regulation 2408/92. At present air services on these routes are provided by Aer Árann under a temporary contract which expires on 30 June 2002. The new formal three year PSO contracts will commence on 1 July 2002.

I am currently giving urgent consideration to the appropriate specifications to be satisfied by air carriers who wish to participate in the EU tender process covering these five routes, including the Galway-Dublin PSO route. Any revision of the current specifications governing these routes, which were previously published in theEU Official Journal on 15 and 28 September 2000, would have to be published by way of a revised notice in the official journal. This will be followed by publication of notices in the EU Official Journal of invitations to air carriers to tender for the specified PSO services. I expect to be in a position to commence that tender process in the coming weeks.