Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2005
53 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on the final cost of the new terminal at Cork Airport; his views on the cost overruns in this project; if the cost of this terminal will be met by the Dublin Airport Authority as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21195/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra67 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport if the business plans of the three State airports have been finalised and received by him; when these plans will be published; the main recommendations arising from these business plans in relation to each airport; if the plans have not been published, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21194/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra71 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Transport the position with regard to the proposed sale of the Great Southern Hotel chain; if he intends to pursue a part, or full sale of the group; if he has received a submission on the future of the chain from the Great Southern Hotel group board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21211/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra83 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Transport his preferred option for the future management of the Great Southern hotels and Aer Rianta International; if a decision has been taken in relation to both these entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21225/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 67, 71 and 83 together.
In keeping with the provisions of the State Airports Act 2004 the board of the Dublin Airport Authority has a statutory mandate to do everything necessary to give effect to the restructuring of the State airports. The Shannon and Cork Airport Authorities were incorporated in September last year and in line with the framework provided by the 2004 Act, these two new authorities will, in due course, own and operate their respective airports once sufficient distributable reserves are available to transfer the relevant assets. Prior to the assets of Shannon and Cork Airports being vested in their respective authorities, their boards are charged with preparing to assume full responsibility for the management and development of their airports. They are also empowered to undertake functions delegated to them, on an agreed basis, by the Dublin Airport Authority. Each of the airport authorities is also required to prepare a comprehensive business plan for its airport.
As part of its business planning process, the Dublin Airport Authority will be considering the future direction of its subsidiaries including the Great Southern hotels group and Aer Rianta International and I will be considering the DAA's proposals in this regard in consultation with the Minister for Finance.
Both I and the Minister for Finance must be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the Shannon and Cork Airport Authorities before the assets of the airports are vested in those authorities. The formulation of comprehensive business plans by the boards will be a key aspect in evaluating operational and financial readiness.
The three airport authorities are continuing to work on preparing comprehensive business plans with the Dublin Airport Authority co-ordinating the process. In this context there is a range of issues, including the unsustainable cost base at Shannon Airport, the charges determination process for Dublin Airport which is currently under way by the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the optimum mechanisms for the financing of the new terminal in Cork, that need to be considered.
With reference to cost of the terminal at Cork Airport, the business planning process will provide a basis for determining the most feasible options for carrying through the restructuring. As required under the State Airports Act, the Deputy can be assured that Cork's ability to operate on a fully commercial basis will be fully assessed as part of this process and will be factored into the decisions made. I am informed by the airport authorities that the budgeted cost, including variations, for the major development programme at Cork Airport amounts to approximately €163 million and that the project remains on budget. Approximately half of this relates to the new passenger terminal with the balance for other new facilities including a multi-storey car park, a new fire station, new internal roadways and surface car parks and the replacement of all existing utility services at the airport.
I understand that the Dublin Airport Authority together with its advisers and the contractor have a framework in place for monitoring the project and that the costs to completion are kept under constant review.
